After a commanding 31-run victory over Ireland on Monday (October 17), Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza revealed that the team's goal is to advance to the Super-12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022.
After being put in to bat first, Zimbabwe posted a challenging total of 174/7 in 20 overs largely attributed to a magnificent knock by Raza, who smashed 82 runs off just 48 balls.
Ireland's reply saw them post just 143/9 in 20 overs, with as many as six batters getting dismissed on a score of under 10. Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowler for the defending team, taking 3 wickets in 4 overs and giving away just 23 runs.
"When we qualified, as much as we were happy to be here, we knew that our journey is not done. We didn't just come here because we are happy to be representing Zimbabwe. The goal we brought was to get into the Super 12 and take some of the big teams and see where we go," said Raza after the match.
While analyzing his knock, Sikandar Raza noted that he tried to bat as long as he could without letting his emotions get the better of him.
"The only thing I said to Sean was let's try to take the team as far as we both can. I just wanted to bat. I didn't want to let any emotions get the best of me. I just wanted to time the ball well and take it from there. I thought the wicket got harder, or I got tired, the second phase of my innings was poor," he added.
The 36-year-old has been in phenomenal touch this year, scoring just two runs shy of 600 in 17 T20Is at a strike rate of over 150. Speaking about his incredible form, he claimed that his only goal is to control his emotions.
"There is no secret to be honest. The only secret I can tell you is to try to channel all the emotions of success and failure into the right way and try to compete with the best in the world so we can represent Zimbabweans and put our flag among the best in the world," he said.
Zimbabwe will next face the West Indies on Wednesday (October 19).
(STAR SPORTS INPUTS)
