Match Thread | Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh | Mirpur, Dhaka | 2020

[zimbos_05]

Way too much sport was on last night, which was wonderful, so didn't get a chance to watch any of this game. Good to see Craig take responsibility as the captain and score a ton. Prince looks like he got stuck in and played well, hopefully will learn and be able to kick on to get a ton soon and be consistent. If he can, it will solve our opener issue.

As for the rest, sounds like some lame wickets, in some cases giving the wicket away. Hard to tell without watching, but just going off what has been said on here and in the commentary.

Also a bit hard to get pumped when you know there are no points at stake. Is it worth us playing tests if there is no aim to them? Do we not just lose money doing so?

[Kriterion_BD]

Good to see Craig take responsibility as the captain and score a ton. Prince looks like he got stuck in and played well, hopefully will learn and be able to kick on to get a ton soon and be consistent. If he can, it will solve our opener issue.

Ervine did well-ish. He was intially being troubled by Nayeem, who had him restrained throughout. But he was authoritative against Taijul. He offered a couple of chances, and made BD pay for not capitalizing by getting to a hundred. The criticism would be he didn't go on to make a big daddy score of 150+ or beyond. Nonetheless, 107 is never a bad score.

Prince, the scorecard doesn't tell the story. He was restrained by the seamers, and offered a genuine chance almost every over it seemed like. He gave aproximately half a dozen REGULATION chances before finally falling for 60 odd. Did not look fluent at all. By contrast, a Brian Chari looked a lot more in control.

As for the rest, sounds like some lame wickets, in some cases giving the wicket away. Hard to tell without watching, but just going off what has been said on here and in the commentary.

Kasuza's dismissal was a tentative edge off a good ball while the ball was swinging around. Not a whole lot he could have done to that. Taylor's dismissal was schoolboyish...the kind of error he, Williams, Hamilton almost trademark, but look for Taylor not repeat that level of foolishness in the 2nd innings. Raza's dismissal was perhaps soft, but it was also excellent bowling from Nayeem as 4 wickets at under 2 an over will attest to. He played for the turn to an arm ball, edging it behind. Maruma is just the worst batsmen to have ever played Tests surely, so not much to say there. Ervine, just got tired I guess, missed a quicker arm ball that ricocheted off his pads to hit the stumps, not the best ball, but good bowling nonetheless.

Also a bit hard to get pumped when you know there are no points at stake. Is it worth us playing tests if there is no aim to them? Do we not just lose money doing so?

Playing for pride should count for something. Away series don't cost ZC much, if anything. Competing or even beating BD in BD is a major statement for Zimbabwe. Also it bears reminding that although the ICC hasn't laid out specific criteria for promotion into the WTC, solid performances against BD, WI, SL, and PAK level teams will eventually get Afghanista/Ireland/Zimbabwe promotion into the WTC.

[jaybro]

The way I saw things play out

Prince did very well, I feel he’s copping too much flack here for a guy who’s now got two half centuries opening the batting in 5 innings. That’s good going for Zimbabwe

Ervine splendid, great to see a guy step up with the little c next to their name. Shame he got out though right at the end, chances of 300 now pretty slim.

BT awful shot, but that’s the way he plays now, as I pointed out in my series review he’s in ODI mode now no matter the match situation.

Maruma awful again, honestly it’s embarrassing he keeps getting picked. I had no issues with him being rewarded with a spot in the train on squad, but he shouldn’t be in the side.

Nayeem bowled really well, he’s 10 times better than Mehidy Miraz Hasan.

Maybe just maybe Tiripano & Nyauchi will get some joy off this deck, Raza definitely will. Not sure how Tshuma will go, but always excited to see a new Zim seamer.

Ndlovu will never have a better chance to prove himself in a test match, bowling last in a deck that’s already taking spin, against a Bangladeshi side with an abnormally large amount of right handers.

[Kriterion_BD]

The way I saw things play out


Nayeem bowled really well, he’s 10 times better than Mehidy Miraz Hasan.

Agreed. Nayeem is the most gifted spinner to come out of BD since Shakib, and probably even better than him even. Can hold a bat as well, although he will have to tighten his technique to become a 20 average batter. Solid fielder as well.

I won't say Miraz is a bad bowler. I just don't think he's as good as Nayeem, granted Nayeem hasn't had to bowl in places like NZ or SA yet. I think Miraz should work on his batting to eventually replace Shakib and bat in the top 7.

[jaybro]

Big morning for Regis & Don, both are struggling in the field in recent matches, but are being picked on the basis they can score runs @7&8

Really need them to get Zimbabwe to 300 today

[tgk]

The Don of the mark with a reverse sweep! If these two stay till Lunch, we could sniff out a win somehow with a huge effort from the bowlers.

[tgk]

Tiripano just needs one more 4 to equal Maruma's career test 4s, in this innings alone.

[Kriterion_BD]

228 apparently the lowest day 1 total at Mirpur. Curious to know what ZIM has gotten in previous tours to BD.

Good start to the day for these 2. We just need to open one end up, preferably by getting Chakabva out.

[Kriterion_BD]

We'll take Tiripano as well. Chakabva won't accelerate much hopefully.

Now the cat and mouse game of feeding RC easy singles for 4 balls every over! God you gotta love Test cricket.

[jaybro]

Ndlovu sucks, looked like he was going to get out every ball

Dumb by Regis to take the single 1st ball of the over, we’ve spoke about it before he has zero match awareness, he should know he’s got three No.11s with him now.

Could be done for 250 here