Match Thread - Zimbawe v Bangladesh 1st Test

[FlowerPower]

Great day for Zim, well done skipper! Great contribution by the tail. Few blemishes:

Unfortunately Chigs proves my point (not gloating at all, and I rate him as our most vital player in the shorter formats), he simply isn't made for Test, certainly not a Test batter.

Maruma isn't any opener, I really feel we set up players for failure sometimes, irresponsible if you ask me. He's a number 6 at best, and may work his way up, opener...not. Having said that, I don't think he hasn't merited the cap, on the back of a good Logan cup run, wouldn't be my first name on the team sheet, or on it for that matter, but won't begrudge him.

I still worry about our attack, remember saying they are all capable of useful 50s each, but could also very equally ship 100 each....I worry.

All in all a good position but worry about the bowling to complement.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Unfortunately Chigs proves my point (not gloating at all, and I rate him as our most vital player in the shorter formats), he simply isn't made for Test, certainly not a Test batter.

Maruma isn't any opener, I really feel we set up players for failure sometimes, irresponsible if you ask me. He's a number 6 at best, and may work his way up, opener...not. Having said that, I don't think he hasn't merited the cap, on the back of a good Logan cup run, wouldn't be my first name on the team sheet, or on it for that matter, but won't begrudge him.

I still worry about our attack, remember saying they are all capable of useful 50s each, but could also very equally ship 100 each....I worry.

Agreed. Really well put, FlowerPower.

Need early wickets tomorrow. Jarvis and S Masakadza steaming in for 4 or 5 overs each, hopefully that will do the trick. S Masakadza is getting swing too, something Chatara wasn't managing in the WI. So it definitely adds a bit of variation.

The Bangladeshis are happy to swing at anything (what was Ashraful doing with 2 overs to go before stumps?). As long as we keep bowling good outswing one of them is going to hit the outside edge...

[Googly]

The guys are bowling length and looking for swing. Margin for error pretty small and they dished up quite a few half volleys. Back of a length just outside off is always the best option. They Bangladeshi looked less than comfortable with anything a bit short, there's quite a lot of nip. They took a bit of a gamble with it but should have gone back to the stock delivery sooner. A lot can happen tomorrow though. Those two dropped catches may prove costly. Can't believe how small Ashraful is. Tiny guy with a big talent. He won't die wondering either.

[jimbo]

My predictions for tommorow

Bangladesh will be bundled out for 330 odd giving zim a 60 run lead. Few wickets in the morning session followed by a strong rearguard action from shakib

[Jemisi]

BD will be very pleased to get away only 1 down after that effort in the field. We need to take our catches tomorrow.

[Kriterion_BD]

The guys are bowling length and looking for swing. Margin for error pretty small and they dished up quite a few half volleys. Back of a length just outside off is always the best option. They Bangladeshi looked less than comfortable with anything a bit short, there's quite a lot of nip. They took a bit of a gamble with it but should have gone back to the stock delivery sooner. A lot can happen tomorrow though. Those two dropped catches may prove costly. Can't believe how small Ashraful is. Tiny guy with a big talent. He won't die wondering either.

There was only the drop of Jaharul in the very first over at slip.

[jimbo]

A lot of deluded bangladesh fans talking about getting to 500 now

Not in our backyard

[Kriterion_BD]

A lot of deluded bangladesh fans talking about getting to 500 now

Not in our backyard

I've been hearing 600

That being said, we have dropped well over 600 in Sri Lanka's backyard, albeit on a pitch much flatter than this one, but its still to early to say anything. All 4 results are nearly equally possible in this game as of now. Win/loss, draw, tie. Whether we can get to 500 or not, I think we should get some sort of a lead based on the following:

1) While the track is sporting, its not lively, nor is a wimbeldon lawn.

2) Zimbabwe managed a fairly large total.

3) We've gone past 550 twice (both times batting 2nd) in our last 4 Tests, against West Indian and Sri Lankan bowling attacks.

4) Our batting, especially minus Tamim, is middle heavy. That is most of our runs come from positions 4-7. So far our top has gotten us to 90 odd for the loss of just one, and offering up just 2 chances in addition to that. If the ZIM fielding does as poorly as us, getting 400 should be no problem, and even 500 might look small.

5) The biggest reason: ZIM's peculiar selection means you have only 2 frontline bowlers. Cremer and Chigs will end up sharing at most 2-3 wickets and they won't be cheap. And Chamu Chibabha looks 10 times as threating as Meth. That leaves just Jarvis and Shingi (who has bowled much better than I expected).

The first hour will be crucial. If we're still only 9 down, then its gonna be a pretty decent total from us, although there might not be enough time for a result in this match.

[ZIMDOGGY]

does anyone think Mangongo dropped chatara due to his ineptitude and willing to give up with the bat? fits his mantra

i dont mind that actually. might solidiy the tail and send the message to dig deep.

[eugene]

does anyone think Mangongo dropped chatara due to his ineptitude and willing to give up with the bat? fits his mantra

i dont mind that actually. might solidiy the tail and send the message to dig deep.

I think you are giving Mangongo too much credit.