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Zimbabwe were dealt with a huge blow before crucial fixture against West Indies at Bellerive Oval, Hobart on October 19. In his absence, Regis Chakabva took over the captaincy and walked out for the coin toss.
“Craig (Ervine) unfortunately isn't feeling too well. He woke up with some asthmatic symptoms and we wish him well,” Chakabva said after losing the toss against Nicholas Pooran.
Ervine has been replaced by 23-year-old Tony Munyonga who has 109 runs from 10 T20Is played so far with a high score of 44.
On the other side, Brandon King missed the must-win clash due to illness. Pooran replaced King with opener Johnson Charles.
Munyonga disappointed with the bat as he scored just two runs from six deliveries in the run chase of 154. Batting at no.3, he got bowled by Alzarri Joseph in the fifth over of the powerplay overs. Joseph went on to take four wickets from his quota of four overs and conceded just 16 runs.
King's replacement did well for West Indies. Charles scored 45 runs from 36 deliveries including three fours and two sixes before getting run out due to miscommunication in the middle with Rovman Powell.
Zimbabwe batting lineup faltered in the run chase against the two-time T20 World Cup champions. Lower-middle order batter Luke Jongwe top-scored with 29 from 222 deliveries as they got all out for 122 in the penultimate over.
Zimbabwe will now face Scotland in the must-win Group B game at the same venue on October 21. Ervine's presence will be crucial as the winner of the game is likely to move to the Super 12 stage.
With a 31-run win, West Indies have kept their chances of reaching the Super 12 stages as they suffered a horrific loss against Scotland in the first game. The Pooran-led side will take on Ireland on October 21 to move on to the next stage.
