Zimbabwe coach Lalchand Rajput is satisfied with the way the team came back after getting trounced by Pakistan and Australia in the first two games of the tri-series.

Although the Chevrons couldn’t manage a single win in the four matches they played in their own backyard, their performance in the last two games seemingly improved where they fell to last-over defeats. Unlike the first two matches, those were not one-sided games where the hosts’ chances were dismissed by a solid bowling attack or a record-breaking innings from the opponents’ camp.

“Pushing the two top teams into the last over is a victory in itself,” said Rajput. “I think it’s a great comeback. This team is a work in progress. We didn’t have a good start, but the last two games were very close. We’re getting there, but we’re just not getting across the line.”

A five-match ODI series between the two sides will start on July 13. And unlike T20Is, Pakistan aren’t the top-ranked team in the 50-over format. However, Zimbabwe, with some of their most experienced players out of the team, would still have to try their utmost to cause trouble to the team that lifted the Champions Trophy last year.

“We’re really happy, but there’s a lot of work to be done. The one-day series [against Pakistan] is around the corner, and these matches will definitely give us some confidence going into that,” Rajput added.

Zimbabwe will have to rely on the young players as long as the likes of Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Brandon Taylor, and Craig Ervine show reluctance to return to the side. However, Rajput has been impressed by the youngsters’ efforts and will be looking to use the positives effectively.