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  • Tunisians vote on constitution set to bolster one-man rule | The Guardian Nigeria News

    Tunisians vote on constitution set to bolster one-man rule | The Guardian Nigeria News

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    Tunisians were voting Monday on a new constitution promoted by President Kais Saied, which has been criticised for giving his office nearly unchecked powers and threatening to install an autocracy in the birthplace of the Arab Spring.

    The referendum comes a year to the day after Saied sacked the government and froze parliament in a power grab that his rivals condemned as a coup.

    His moves were however welcomed by many Tunisians fed up with a grinding economic crisis, political turmoil and a system they felt had brought little improvement to their lives in the decade since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

    Few, doubt Monday’s vote will pass, but turnout will gauge Saied’s popularity after a year of increasingly tight one-man rule that has seen scant progress on tackling the North African country’s economic woes.

    Early on Monday, a handful of voters had queued up waiting for the opening a polling station in Tunis, guarded by a pair of soldiers and four police officers.

    After casting their ballots, they emerged with purple ink on one finger to prevent fraud.

    The electoral board said by 0830 GMT an “encouraging” 6.3 percent of voters had cast ballots.

    Speaking mid-morning, Saied told journalists the country faced a “historic choice” and a free vote.

    “Together we are founding a new republic based on genuine freedom, justice and national dignity,” he said.

    Voter Imed Hezzi, a 57-year-old waiter, said he had “lots of hope” Saied would improve the country.

    “Tunisia will prosper from today onwards,” he told AFP after casting his ballot. “The start of the new Tunisia is today.”

    ‘None of the safeguards’
    Some 9.3 million out of Tunisia’s 12 million people are eligible to vote.

    No minimum participation has been set for the constitution to pass, nor any provision made for a “no” result, and Saied’s critics have warned Tunisia risks sliding back towards dictatorship.

    The new text would place the head of state in command of the army, allow him to appoint a government without parliamentary approval and make him virtually impossible to remove from office.

    The president could also present draft laws to parliament, which would be obliged to give them priority.

    The new charter “gives the president almost all powers and dismantles any check on his rule and any institution that might exert any kind of control over him,” declared Said Benarbia, regional director of the International Commission of Jurists.

    “None of the safeguards that could protect Tunisians from Ben Ali-type violations are there any more.”

    Saied’s charter would replace a 2014 constitution that was a hard-won compromise between Islamist-leaning and secular forces after three years of political turmoil.

    His supporters blame the resulting parliamentary-presidential system and the dominant Islamist-influenced Ennahdha party for years of political crises and corruption.

    Saied’s draft constitution was published this month with little reference even to an earlier draft produced by a committee he appointed himself.

    Sadeq Belaid, a mentor of Saied who led the process, warned the president’s first draft was far removed from that of the committee and risked creating a “dictatorial system”.

    A slightly amended version did little to address such concerns.

    Opposition parties and civil society groups have called for a boycott, while the powerful UGTT trade union has declined to take a position.

    Revolutionary ‘correction’
    Benarbia said the text “doesn’t even envisage the possibility of a no vote”.

    Saied, a 64-year-old law professor, won the 2019 presidential election in a landslide, building on his image as incorruptible and distanced from the political elite.

    He has appeared increasingly isolated in recent months, mostly limiting his public comments to official videos from his office — often diatribes against domestic foes he brands as “snakes”, “germs” and “traitors”.

    He has vowed to protect Tunisians’ liberties and describes his political project as a “correction” and a return to the path of the revolution.

    Mongia Aounallah, a 62-year-old retiree, said she hoped the referendum would lead to “a better life for our children’s children”.

    “The schools are a catastrophe,” she said. “The situation is catastrophic. Everything is catastrophic.”

    Day labourer Ridha Nefzi agreed.

    “I came to vote to change the situation of the country,” the 43-year-old said.

    “The country’s run into a brick wall. But today we turn a new page.”

    But while Saied enjoys some popularity, that will be tested by soaring inflation, youth unemployment of 40 percent and a tough loan deal with the International Monetary Fund.

    Voting is set end at 10:00 pm (2100 GMT) and results are expected late Tuesday or early Wednesday.



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  • Back to Africa: Russia’s Lavrov Set for Regional Tour of ‘Continent of the Future’

    Back to Africa: Russia’s Lavrov Set for Regional Tour of ‘Continent of the Future’

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    https://sputniknews.com/20220723/back-to-africa-russias-lavrov-set-for-regional-tour-of-continent-of-the-future-1097730612.html

    Back to Africa: Russia’s Lavrov Set for Regional Tour of ‘Continent of the Future’

    Back to Africa: Russia’s Lavrov Set for Regional Tour of ‘Continent of the Future’

    The Russian foreign minister’s five-day, four nation trip will take him to Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Republic of Congo, where he will discuss a broad… 23.07.2022, Sputnik International

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    In his announcement of his working visit to Africa in an interview with Sputnik earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that Russia’s long-standing ties with African nations goes back to Soviet days, when Moscow worked to assist the region in its national liberation struggle with the European colonial powers. In recent years, he said, Russia has been working to restore relations frayed by the turmoil of the 1990s, and has met a warm, reciprocal response from African countries.Lavrov’s tour, which will kick off Sunday, will take place against the backdrop of a landmark event for the region – the signing of the United Nations and Turkey-mediated Russian-Ukrainian grain agreements, aimed at lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, and Russian assistance in the export of Ukrainian grain.Egypt: Gateway to AfricaEgypt, Russia’s largest trade and economic partner in Africa, will be the first stop of Lavrov’s visit. Trade turnover between the countries reached $4.8 billion in 2021, with some 470 Russian companies operating in the Egyptian market.In his Sputnik interview, the Russian foreign minister pointed out that Rosatom has signed a contract with the Egyptians for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant at El Dabaa, northern Egypt. Construction of the plant began this week, days ahead of Lavrov’s scheduled departure for Cairo.Lavrov also pointed to the creation of the Russian industrial area, emphasizing that it is being created directly “on the banks of the Suez Canal.”In a separate interview with African media on Friday, Lavrov indicated that the current geopolitical situation in the world requires “certain adjustment” in the mechanisms of interaction between Moscow and Africa.Ethiopia, Congo, Uganda: Warm Ties With Good FriendsDuring his visit to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and home to the headquarters of the African Union, Lavrov will be received by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.Russia and Ethiopia established relations all the way back in 1898, and during the Cold War Moscow assisted the country with a broad range of industrial and infrastructure projects, and trained and educated over 25,000 Ethiopians in Soviet universities and vocational institutions.Prime Minister Ahmed attended the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019 and held talks with President Putin. Russia-Ethiopia trade turnover reached $61.2 million in 2020, and the country is negotiating with Rosatom on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. Over 100 Russian specialists, mostly doctors, work in Ethiopia under private contracts, and about 70 Ethiopian nationals are studying in Russian universities.The next leg of Lavrov’s tour will take him to the Republic of the Congo, where Russia’s RusGazEngineering is implementing the construction of a major oil pipeline from Pointe Noire to Brazzaville, Oyo and Huesso. This project, one of the largest infrastructure development schemes in the country, is designed to significantly reduce the cost of transporting petroleum products, improve safety, and ensure the sustainable development of remote areas of the country for decades to come. The project is supported by the Russian-Congolese Intergovernmental Commission for Energy Cooperation, and the Russian Energy Ministry.Russia-Republic of the Congo trade topped $89 million in 2020, with wheat and meslin serving as the main Russian exports, and coffee, wood and paper products, precious metals and stones serving as the main Congolese exports.Next up is Uganda, where Lavrov will meet with President Yoweri Museveni. The Ugandan president also attended the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit, and also held talks with Putin, with a memorandum on sanitary and epidemiological cooperation reached between the two nations. Russian-Ugandan trade hit $82+ million in 2020, with the main Russian exports being wheat, asphalt mixtures, mineral fertilizers, and aircraft parts, and the main imports including nuts, teas, coffee, spices and tobacco. A cotton processing enterprise with investment from Russian capital is operating in Uganda.In 2017, Rosatom and the Uganda’s energy ministry signed a memorandum on cooperation for the peaceful use of atomic energy.African VectorRussian Institute of African Studies senior researcher Yevgeny Korendyasov sees Lavrov’s upcoming trip as a sign that “the African vector in Russia’s foreign policy is becoming a priority,” and says that “clearly, the purpose of this trip is to reaffirm our determination to continue strengthening relations.”Korendyasov pointed to Uganda’s strategic position in the region, and the warm ties between Moscow and Kampala, including in the field of military-technical cooperation. Uganda, he noted, is currently one of Africa’s fastest developing countries economically.As for the Republic of the Congo, the specialist pointed out that close ties with the country go back to Soviet days, with the USSR assisting in the creation of enterprises for the extraction of gold, led, and valuable wood products.Food for ThoughtOn the eve of Lavrov’s trip, Russia and Ukraine signed a UN-backed, Turkish-brokered grain export deal, facilitating the unhindered supply of Russian agricultural goods and fertilizers to world markets on one hand, and the export of Ukrainian foodstuffs on the other. The landmark deal –broken down into two documents, carries special importance for Africa in preventing a global food crisis nearly caused by the West’s anti-Russian sanctions and the Ukraine security crisis.The Russian foreign minister characterized the grain deal’s signature as testimony of the fiction of Western attempts to blame Russia for global food problems. In his interview with African media, Lavrov vowed that Russia will continue to fulfill its obligations to supply food, fertilizers and energy to Africa, notwithstanding sanctions.This week, Lavrov revealed that a second Russia-Africa Summit would be held in 2023, with its precise location and dates still being worked out. According to the foreign minister, an economic forum will be held alongside the summit, and will include roundtables on trade, energy, agriculture, cybersecurity, and cooperation in space and nuclear energy.In his interview with Sputnik, Lavrov stressed that despite the recent improvement of ties with Africa, much more remains to be done.The United States is set to host its own Africa summit in December, with President Biden expected to welcome leaders from across the continent in Washington.Korendyasov suggested that it wouldn’t be correct to compare the Russian and US approaches to Africa, or the two planned summits, saying their purposes were very different, “even opposite,” and that the US efforts will be focused on trying to persuade African nations into taking Russophobic positions.The observer added that unlike Washington’s conditionalities on relations, including recognition of the US-dominated liberal democratic world order, Moscow does not set any such terms, recognizing the diversity and individuality of African countries.

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    The Russian foreign minister’s five-day, four nation trip will take him to Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Republic of Congo, where he will discuss a broad range of issues, including international and regional questions and matters of bilateral cooperation.

    In his announcement of his working visit to Africa in an interview with Sputnik earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that Russia’s long-standing ties with African nations goes back to Soviet days, when Moscow worked to assist the region in its national liberation struggle with the European colonial powers. In recent years, he said, Russia has been working to restore relations frayed by the turmoil of the 1990s, and has met a warm, reciprocal response from African countries.
    Lavrov’s tour, which will kick off Sunday, will take place against the backdrop of a landmark event for the region – the signing of the United Nations and Turkey-mediated Russian-Ukrainian grain agreements, aimed at lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, and Russian assistance in the export of Ukrainian grain.

    Egypt: Gateway to Africa

    Egypt, Russia’s largest trade and economic partner in Africa, will be the first stop of Lavrov’s visit. Trade turnover between the countries reached $4.8 billion in 2021, with some 470 Russian companies operating in the Egyptian market.

    In his Sputnik interview, the Russian foreign minister pointed out that Rosatom has signed a contract with the Egyptians for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant at El Dabaa, northern Egypt. Construction of the plant began this week, days ahead of Lavrov’s scheduled departure for Cairo.

    Lavrov also pointed to the creation of the Russian industrial area, emphasizing that it is being created directly “on the banks of the Suez Canal.”

    “Our relations with Africa have even brighter prospects now that the African Union decided last year to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Lavrov said, explaining that specific criteria and tariffs for the trade area are currently being agreed upon, and that the agreement will ultimately benefit Russia as Africa’s partner and boost trade and investment, both of which remain “quite modest” for the moment compared to the United States, China and the European Union.

    In a separate interview with African media on Friday, Lavrov indicated that the current geopolitical situation in the world requires “certain adjustment” in the mechanisms of interaction between Moscow and Africa.
    In this handout photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, welcomes Workneh Gebeyehu, the executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) - an eight-country trade bloc in Africa - during their meeting in Moscow, Russia - Sputnik International, 1920, 22.07.2022

    Lavrov: Russia, Africa Seek to Reduce Share of Dollar, Euro in Mutual Trade

    “First of all, there is a question of ensuring seamless logistics, and tuning the system of financial settlements to make them secure from outside interference,” Lavrov said. “In cooperation with its partners, Russia is taking steps to enhance the use of national currencies and payment systems. We are working to gradually reduce the share of dollar and the euro in trade,” he added.

    Ethiopia, Congo, Uganda: Warm Ties With Good Friends

    During his visit to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and home to the headquarters of the African Union, Lavrov will be received by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

    Russia and Ethiopia established relations all the way back in 1898, and during the Cold War Moscow assisted the country with a broad range of industrial and infrastructure projects, and trained and educated over 25,000 Ethiopians in Soviet universities and vocational institutions.

    Prime Minister Ahmed attended the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019 and held talks with President Putin. Russia-Ethiopia trade turnover reached $61.2 million in 2020, and the country is negotiating with Rosatom on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. Over 100 Russian specialists, mostly doctors, work in Ethiopia under private contracts, and about 70 Ethiopian nationals are studying in Russian universities.

    BRICS - Sputnik International, 1920, 14.07.2022

    Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey May Join BRICS ‘Very Soon’, Forum Chair Anand Says
    The next leg of Lavrov’s tour will take him to the Republic of the Congo, where Russia’s RusGazEngineering is implementing the construction of a major oil pipeline from Pointe Noire to Brazzaville, Oyo and Huesso. This project, one of the largest infrastructure development schemes in the country, is designed to significantly reduce the cost of transporting petroleum products, improve safety, and ensure the sustainable development of remote areas of the country for decades to come. The project is supported by the Russian-Congolese Intergovernmental Commission for Energy Cooperation, and the Russian Energy Ministry.

    Russia-Republic of the Congo trade topped $89 million in 2020, with wheat and meslin serving as the main Russian exports, and coffee, wood and paper products, precious metals and stones serving as the main Congolese exports.

    Next up is Uganda, where Lavrov will meet with President Yoweri Museveni. The Ugandan president also attended the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit, and also held talks with Putin, with a memorandum on sanitary and epidemiological cooperation reached between the two nations. Russian-Ugandan trade hit $82+ million in 2020, with the main Russian exports being wheat, asphalt mixtures, mineral fertilizers, and aircraft parts, and the main imports including nuts, teas, coffee, spices and tobacco. A cotton processing enterprise with investment from Russian capital is operating in Uganda.

    In 2017, Rosatom and the Uganda’s energy ministry signed a memorandum on cooperation for the peaceful use of atomic energy.

    Map of proposed Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline. - Sputnik International, 1920, 04.05.2022

    Nigerian Minister Says Russian Investors Interested in Financing African Gas Mega-Pipeline

    African Vector

    Russian Institute of African Studies senior researcher Yevgeny Korendyasov sees Lavrov’s upcoming trip as a sign that “the African vector in Russia’s foreign policy is becoming a priority,” and says that “clearly, the purpose of this trip is to reaffirm our determination to continue strengthening relations.”

    Korendyasov pointed to Uganda’s strategic position in the region, and the warm ties between Moscow and Kampala, including in the field of military-technical cooperation. Uganda, he noted, is currently one of Africa’s fastest developing countries economically.

    As for the Republic of the Congo, the specialist pointed out that close ties with the country go back to Soviet days, with the USSR assisting in the creation of enterprises for the extraction of gold, led, and valuable wood products.

    Food for Thought

    On the eve of Lavrov’s trip, Russia and Ukraine signed a UN-backed, Turkish-brokered grain export deal, facilitating the unhindered supply of Russian agricultural goods and fertilizers to world markets on one hand, and the export of Ukrainian foodstuffs on the other. The landmark deal –broken down into two documents, carries special importance for Africa in preventing a global food crisis nearly caused by the West’s anti-Russian sanctions and the Ukraine security crisis.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and U.N. Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, sit as two representatives of Ukraine and Russia delegations check hands during a signing ceremony at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, July 22, 2022 - Sputnik International, 1920, 22.07.2022

    Russia, Ukraine Sign UN-Mediated Grain Deal in Istanbul

    The Russian foreign minister characterized the grain deal’s signature as testimony of the fiction of Western attempts to blame Russia for global food problems. In his interview with African media, Lavrov vowed that Russia will continue to fulfill its obligations to supply food, fertilizers and energy to Africa, notwithstanding sanctions.

    This week, Lavrov revealed that a second Russia-Africa Summit would be held in 2023, with its precise location and dates still being worked out. According to the foreign minister, an economic forum will be held alongside the summit, and will include roundtables on trade, energy, agriculture, cybersecurity, and cooperation in space and nuclear energy.

    Rossiya Segodnya holds videoconference on food security with African experts - Sputnik International, 1920, 12.07.2022

    Rossiya Segodnya Hosts Virtual Conference Discussing Africa’s Food Security

    In his interview with Sputnik, Lavrov stressed that despite the recent improvement of ties with Africa, much more remains to be done.

    “It is important to step up our efforts. Africa has a population of 1.4 billion people, comparable to China and India. This is a great portion of the modern world and probably the most promising market. That is why companies and countries with good vision are building long-term strategies with regard to Africa, which is the continent of the future,” Lavrov said.

    The United States is set to host its own Africa summit in December, with President Biden expected to welcome leaders from across the continent in Washington.

    Korendyasov suggested that it wouldn’t be correct to compare the Russian and US approaches to Africa, or the two planned summits, saying their purposes were very different, “even opposite,” and that the US efforts will be focused on trying to persuade African nations into taking Russophobic positions.

    The observer added that unlike Washington’s conditionalities on relations, including recognition of the US-dominated liberal democratic world order, Moscow does not set any such terms, recognizing the diversity and individuality of African countries.

    Moscow Kremlin and Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge. In the background: the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. - Sputnik International, 1920, 03.05.2022

    West Pressuring African Countries, Demanding to Condemn Russia – Russian Ambassador to Angola



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  • Tigray rebels set up team to negotiate with govt — World — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

    Tigray rebels set up team to negotiate with govt — World — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

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    Tigrayan rebels have set up a team to negotiate with the Ethiopian government, a spokesman for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front told AFP on Monday, 20 months after war broke out in the northern region.

    The announcement comes less than a week after an Ethiopian government body tasked with examining the possibility of peace talks with the TPLF held its first meeting.

    But in a sign of the challenges dogging the process, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party has insisted any negotiations could only be led by the African Union (AU), a stance rejected by the rebels.

    The TPLF has voiced concerns about the “proximity” of the AU’s envoy, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, to Abiy and said it wants any talks to be held under the auspices of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

    “We will be ready to send a delegation to Nairobi… and have established a team with high-ranking members,” TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda told AFP, without offering further details.

    “It would be very irresponsible for us to submit all negotiating processes to the AU,” he said, adding that any talks would have to involve Kenyatta, who has played an active role in peace efforts.

    The government’s committee is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen, who also serves as foreign minister.

    The conflict has driven hundreds of thousands of people to the brink of famine, displaced more than two million and left more than nine million in need of food aid, according to the United Nations.

    Fighting has eased since a humanitarian truce was declared at the end of March.

    But Tigray continues to face dire shortages of food and fuel while lacking access to essential services such as electricity and banking, according to aid agencies.

    Getachew reiterated the rebels’ stance that the status of western Tigray — claimed by both Amharas and Tigrayans and currently occupied by Amhara forces — was not up for negotiation.

    The conflict erupted in November 2020 when the government sent federal troops into Tigray to topple the TPLF, the region’s former ruling party, saying it was in response to rebel attacks on army camps.

    After the TPLF mounted a shock comeback in June, retaking Tigray and then expanding into the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara, fighting intensified in the second half of 2021, before reaching a stalemate.



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  • Zimbabwe Defeat USA To Set Up Semi-Final Against PNG

    Zimbabwe Defeat USA To Set Up Semi-Final Against PNG

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    Two game-changing performances inspired Zimbabwe to a 46-run victory over the United States of America (USA) at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday, finishing top of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier B 2022 group with three victories in three matches.

    The first was recorded by Sikandar Raza, who came in with the hosts’ innings at a crossroads and hammered a magnificent 82 not out off 40 balls to take his team through to a powerful total.

    The second was a vital spell of bowling from Wellington Masakadza, who came on at a stage when their opponents were threatening to take command, and seized four vital wickets to put the Americans on a slippery slope towards defeat.

    Zimbabwe won the toss for the first time in this tournament and decided to bat first.

    They looked for runs aggressively from the start, and in the second over of the innings, bowled by Rusty Theron, Regis Chakabva hit him for four, six and four off successive deliveries.

    Craig Ervine also made a good start, but after scoring 11 off nine balls he paddled a ball from Nisarg Patel to backward square leg to be caught with the score 30 for one in the fourth over.

    Sean Williams began fluently, but Chakabva now got a little bogged down, and in trying to drive a ball over extra cover off Patel was caught there for 30 off 21 balls – 59 for two in the eighth over.

    Innocent Kaia did not settle in and was out lbw to Cameron Stevenson for two, making the score 64 for three and bringing together the renowned pair of Williams and Raza.

    After 10 overs the score was 70 for three, a little disappointing after such a dynamic start.

    The pair settled in as usual and then started attacking, the 100 coming up in the 14th over.

    Raza, hitting brilliantly, overtook Williams in the thirties, and raced to his fifty off 29 balls.

    Williams made 37 off 35 deliveries when he failed to time a big drive properly off Aaron Jones and was caught at long-off with the score 143 for four wickets in the 18th over.

    This pair had revived the Zimbabwe innings yet again, having put on 79 runs in eight overs and two balls, almost 10 an over.

    Ryan Burl hit a two, a six and then skyed his third delivery to be caught by the keeper, while Luke Jongwe, also hitting at everything, was bowled second ball for one by Saurabh Netravalkar.

    Jones drew the short straw, as it were, to bowl the final over, and saw Raza smash his first three deliveries all for big sixes.

    He then lost the strike, but Milton Shumba hit a four and a two off the final two balls to take the Zimbabwe total to a very impressive 185 for six wickets.

    Raza’s innings was nothing short of brilliant – he scored 82 not out off only 40 balls, with five sixes and seven fours.

    Patel was the best of the USA bowlers, taking two wickets for 24 in his four overs, while Netravalkar took one for 27.

    Steven Taylor also bowled economically, no wicket but only 23 runs scored off him.

    The other three bowlers all suffered severe punishment, though, with Jones finishing with the unusual figures of two for 37 off two overs.

    Taylor and the captain, Monank Patel, opened the USA batting against the bowling of Richard Ngarava, who replaced the injured Tendai Chatara, and Blessing Muzarabani.

    Taylor was soon showing ominous form, cracking three fours and then a six off Raza in the first three overs of the American innings.

    When Patel got into the act, the score after five overs was 50 for no wicket.

    At 55, though, Patel miscued a pull off a faster ball from Ngarava and was caught by Williams at midwicket for 17, scored off 15 balls – 55 for one in the sixth over.

    Jones went for seven, brilliantly caught low down at mid-on by Shumba off Williams – 72 for two in the ninth over.

    After 10 overs the score was 79 for two, better than Zimbabwe had been at that stage.

    The vital man for the USA was Taylor, who was rather less devastating against the spinners than the pacemen, and in the following over he miscued Masakadza’s second ball and skyed a catch that was well taken by Shumba at mid-on.

    He had scored 46 off 32 balls, with a six and five fours, and the score was 80 for three.

    The batters crossed, and two balls later Masakadza bowled out Jaskaran Malhotra for five – this was the over that gave Zimbabwe the advantage.

    Masakadza struck again in his second over, as Gajanand Singh was caught in the deep by Burl for four, reducing them to 91 for five in the 13th over, and the required run rate was now over 13.