A tonic to lift the spirits …

Now a little respite from quick, back-to-back cricket tours by India and New Zealand. Zimbabwe might well have been hammered all round but fans who saw the Kiwis, sent in to bat first, notching up 303 runs for four wickets in their first One Day International were electrified  when the home team – greatly troubled in recent times – came out fighting and needed one run off the last six balls to win. The clincher – reaching 304 for three wickets – was, anticlimactically, from a wide bowled by New Zealand’s Nathan McCullum.

But the spectators, particularly at Castle Corner, exploded with joy. It was a rare tonic to lift the spirits in the blight of failure and hardship.

Behind the excitement, a few might have noticed the latest addition to the vista at Harare Sports Club, one of the world’s most picturesque, best maintained and highly rated cricket grounds. Yes, it’s another of those new cellphone towers pretending to be a tree.

This is splendid, the atmosphere is magnificent,  said New Zealand visitors at the Harare Sports Club. The new road from the airport is terrific. Shame about Cecil the lion, but what are you all complaining about?

It’s a long story, mate. For a start, try taking  a short detour off the airport road and beyond the hotel and the sports club.