sentences:  This was declared illegal by Great Britain, and 15 years of controversy and sanctions followed until finally the country gained official independence as Zimbabwe in April 1980.In cricket terms, Rhodesia was always tied to South Africa.The first recorded match in Rhodesia took place near Fort Victoria (modern Masvingo) on 16 August 1890, on a wicket of a bare twenty two yards of earth, shortly after Cecil Rhodes' Pioneer Column had formed a settlement.