The T20 world cup had an Australia v/s Zimbabwe match on, on Wednesday night. Now who’d be sucker enough to watch that, I thought. For those uninitiated into the world of international cricket, Australia is no less than an invincible team. Zimbabwe is pretty much a minnow, beaten by all and sundry, and just about filling up the vacancies for the tournament. After being relegated from world cricket because of a poor win-lose ratio, and being plagued by political problems within, they were hopelessly out of action. Poor Zimbabweans, I thought. And all the world must have shared the same view, as evening gave way to night, and I tuned in for the match, expecting Australia to effect a merciless spanking on what is pretty much the most impoverished team in world cricket.

There was rain prior to the start of play, and the experts predicted a tricky pitch and a sluggish outfield. Basically unsuitable conditions for batting. Australia won the toss, and Ponting (captain, you’ve gotta know that!) walked with a swagger, making almost no efforts to hide his smirk. “Well, we’re going to have a bat, you know, get some runs on the board, and put them into bat.” And he complimented his statement with the Aussie drawl, which I personally feel goes hand in hand with arrogance.

Well, so the burly Hayden and the sly Gilchrist walked into bat. The Zimbabweans looked a jittery lot. Can’t blame them, I thought. That was the point I almost lost interest and switched off the TV. It was going to be so predictable.

But something made me sit a little longer. Surprise, tight bowling and hostile conditions got the better of Gilchrist. Hayden fell a little time later, so did Ponting, and a bit of near brilliant fielding sent back the dangerous Hussey. Pretty much, the Australians were on the mat. Where were the jitters now? The Zims seemed a confident lot now, and it was as if they were possessed. The Australians ended their innings after having made 138 in their 20 overs. That was 139 to chase for Zimbabwe, at almost 7 runs per over.

It was an uphill battle, but I guess the initial burst of confidence stuck through with the Zimbabweans till the end, and they rode the storm on their own fortune, and stamped a thrilling last over win on the world number one team.

Doesn’t go to show anything great. It’s the prospect of an upset that makes a match like this interesting in the first place, but the odds of that are very very less.

And it’s right when sport is not confused with entertainment, for it’s not like a Karan Johar movie, but this incident just goes to show that the impossible does, sometimes, reveal itself occasionally.

It’s stuff like this that makes you believe in all those improbable things that you’ve dreamt of. It may be a terribly difficult battle, but it surely is worth fighting for. I’m sure none of the Australians must have slept that night, kicking themselves for the overconfidence with which they had approached. Also, none of these guys must have slept either, for joy of course.

Life’s not bad. It’s just difficult. But don’t let the struggle get to you. So what if you’re up against Australia. You just gotta be the hungry desperate Zimbabwean to win. And give hope to the world.