Zimpapers Logo

THE Zimbabwe Chevrons have a cheerleader like no one this country has ever seen in its history — a Boeing 767 pilot who also happens to be the wife of national team skipper Graeme Cremer. Merna Cremer is not your everyday cheerleader. She flies a Boeing 767 and is passionate about her country, Zimbabwe, and her national cricket team.

And, as the Chevrons battle for a place at the World Cup in England next year, she has become the social media sensation who is rallying support for her team.

And, yesterday, as Zimbabwe completed a remarkable two-run win over Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club, she was watching and tweeting.

“Our boys are ready to go! Incredible support, you are amazing #Bulawayo THANK YOU! fight till the end!’’
Then she posted a picture of the partners of the Zimbabwean players supporting the team at Queens Sports Club. The picture features herself and the partners of Brian Vitori, Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, who is recovering from injury, but is expected to play a big part in the tournament.

“The crowd is going wild chanting @SRazaB24 (Sikandar Raza) name! 3rd wicket! On-fire Raza our hope,’’ she then kept her audience updated.
“One more wicket, our boys are true fighters . . . till the end!!!!!’’
She questioned some decisions along the way.

“3 bad decisions against us again,’’ she tweeted. “4 balls with one over remaining and ONE WICKET.
“4 runs to win off 5 balls 3 runs off 4 balls WICKET We won!!!!!! We won, we won, we won! My Heroes! Incredible cricket.
“We won, Zimbabwe won, my heroes.’’

She then uploaded the video when Vitori took the final wicket.
“What a team, what a win,’’ she screamed. “I have watched his video 10 times laughing at the celebrations @BrendanTaylor86 (Brendan Taylor) falling to his knees, @Craig_Ervine77 (Craig Ervine) skip jump and Hamilton Masakadza fisting downwards, too funny.’’

It’s all happening in the City of Kings.
Meanwhile, in Harare, Chris Gayle grabbed the headlines with a typically explosive 91-ball 123 in Windies’ Group A match at Old Hararians yesterday on a day when No.3 batsman Shimron Hetmyer also powered to a century.
The 21-year-old Guyanan struck his maiden ODI century in just his third match as the Windies offered UAE no respite in the field, racking up a monstrous 357 from their 50 overs.

Hetmyer put on 103 with Gayle at a run-rate just over nine an over, and the young left-hander continued to power the innings long after his experienced partner was dismissed, hitting 14 fours and four sixes on his way to an impressive 128-ball 127. He was only out in the 48th over with the score on 333.

Ireland also beat Papua New Guinea by four wickets yesterday. — Sports Reporter/ICC.