Kaia backs himself with half ton in Chevrons win over Namibia

INNOCENT Kaia delivered the innings Zimbabwe needed when it mattered most, smashing 72 off 42 balls to guide the Chevrons to a five-wicket win over Namibia and keep their Tri-Series final hopes alive on Thursday. The 31-year-old opener was named Player of the Match for his aggressive knock that chased down 156 with 11 balls to spare, and captain Sikandar Raza said the performance was proof the team’s “process” was starting to click. Kaia, playing just his second game since returning to the side, said he went out with one mindset. "It was a great feeling when you contribute for the team," Kaia said at the presentation. "My plan was clear: you have to be aggressive and take the game on. I had to just back myself and it paid off." His 72 off 42 included a flurry of boundaries that made light work of the chase and ensured Erasmus' 88 off 48 ended in a losing cause for Namibia. The win makes it two in two for Zimbabwe against Namibia in the series. Raza said Kaia’s knock was exactly the kind of middle-overs improvement he had been demanding in the changing room. "I am happy about today's result, happy about how we went about our business. But most importantly, I am happy that there were a few areas that I highlighted and I saw a lot of improvement in," Raza said. "I always believe process over results matters. Especially as we are going through a few changes - how we want to bat, how we want to bowl, how we want to go about business." Raza also spoke about backing players through the transition, something Kaia has benefited from after his recall. "As a captain, I want to give them time and belief and faith that it is okay to have failures as long as the graph is going up. Once you have made it to the national team, there must be a decent opportunity given to you and all the help." The win keeps Zimbabwe alive in the series, but they still rely on South Africa beating Namibia in Friday’s final league game to make the final. Raza refused to look too far ahead. "I do not want to think about the final. Yes, we have given ourselves the best chance to play in the final, but still there is a very important game that is still left." For Kaia, it was about doing his job for the team. With Zimbabwe rated "five or six out of 10" by their captain right now, innings like Kaia’s suggest that number is climbing.