30 years in the making, Zimbabwe's win was one for the true believers

It’s difficult to get a straight answer from anybody on the state of Zimbabwe cricket, but there was only one way to interpret Prosper Utseya’s booming six which crushed Australia.

True believers witnessed a moment of pure sporting excitement as Mitchell Starc’s delivery disappeared over the mid-wicket boundary and Zimbabwe’s players cleared the benches to celebrate on field.

From the moment the ball flew from Utseya’s bat long into the night, the dark cloud that shadows Zimbabwe cricket was temporarily lifted.

Dogged by mismanagement, agendas and a crippled financial state, an historic first win over Australia in 31 years won’t be enough to fix systematic problems at the ZCU.

But the fact there was even a crowd there to see the fairytale victory – let alone a raucous packed house – was hope in itself that cricket’s basket case still has an opportunity to rebuild.

Earlier this year Zimbabwe lost two one-day internationals to Afghanistan, but on Sunday they conquered the No.1 team in the world, with their battalion of spinners restricting Australia to 9-209.

At the very least this was a triumph for a playing group, who work jobs to supplement their income and are reportedly treated like schoolchildren by their controversial coach Stephen Mangongo.

There are so many things out of the control of Zimbabwe players.

But match-winning captain Elton Chigumbura (52 not out) said this victory was about those.

“We play for each other,” Chigumbura said.

If Australia lose to South Africa on Tuesday and Zimbabwe spring a bonus-point upset over the Proteas – the hosts can book a date with their African neighbours in the tri-series final on Saturday.

“If we play our best then you never know what can happen,” said Chigumbura.

“It’s a game of cricket.”

Keeping that simple philosophy in perspective hasn’t been easy for Zimbabwe over recent weeks.

Star players like world-class wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor have been dropped at stages by Mangongo for no obvious reason.

Last week, Mangongo expelled one of his quicks for sharing a video of Mitchell Johnson’s ferocious bowling during the last Ashes series with teammates.

“I don’t feel vindicated because I had nothing to prove,” he said after the historic win.

“(Critics) are entitled to their opinion. Zimbabwe is a democratic country. Anyone can say whatever he wants.”

Not everyone shares that opinion, but there was no ambiguity to Utseya’s pull shot.

It was a luminous sporting moment that transcended the team’s difficult background.