Waller was in inspired form when Zimbabwe, the underdogs, successfully chased down a record 329-run target to win the third and last match of the series with a wicket to spare.
He scored an unconquered 99 in the match played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
“I just tried to relax and stay calm as much as possible. I know if you get carried away and not watch the ball, it will not happen. So, I just put all the focus on watching the ball and just decided to play as it came,” explained Waller in an interview.
“We were really chasing what was a very big total. We got a pretty good start when Brendan (Taylor) set a very good platform and got us going in the right direction. And then Elton (Chigumbura) hit it so well which made it pretty easy for us to stay calm.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s stunning victory over New Zealand has not only the young team plaudits locally but has resulted in the side garner valuable points in the Reliable Mobile International Cricket Council (ICC) Rankings.
Zimbabwe are still basking on a dramatic one-wicket victory over the visiting islanders in a One Day International (ODI) encounter at Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club.
It was Zimbabwe's highest successful run chase and ended a sequence of seven successive defeats for the home side.
The result helped the young side secure points that would enhance its position in the ICC rankings.
According to the ODI rankings released by the world cricket governing body from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the historic victory over New Zealand earned the Southern African team three ratings points.
Zimbabwe has moved up to 47 ratings points.
“On the contrary, New Zealand has dropped three ratings points,” Sami-ul-Hasan, ICC Media and Communications Operations Manager, said.
Zimbabwe remains tenth but has managed to close the gap between them and Bangladesh to 16 points.
Post published in: Cricket