Tanking for Tsvangirai?

Unbelievable. Chasing Ireland's 221 this afternoon, Zimbabwe needed just 24 runs from the last 42 balls. They had 5 wickets in hand. They were cruising to victory. And then things fell apart, as they tend to do in Zimbabwe these days. Wicket after wicket fell, and dot ball after dot ball passed -- till the point where, with just one over left, Zimbabwe was left with but a single wicket, and still required 9 runs to win.

They got 8.

So we were lucky enough to witness a terrific climax, resulting in only the third draw in World Cup history. And yes, Zimbabwe choked in horrific fashion, but you have to deeply appreciate the superb effort of Stuart Matsikenyeri, who scored 73 runs off 76 balls, and who single-handedly seemed to will his team to eke out the draw.

We sincerely doubt that his teammates were tanking for Tsvangirai, but the Deuce does hope that the old, paranoid dictator -- who, in addition to his manifold human and civil rights violations, has wreaked havoc upon Zimbabwe cricket -- sees a bad omen in the Zimbabwean collape.