[Match Thread] 2nd T20I (South Africa v Zimbabwe)

[PSR]

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6 by taibu

[PSR]

chigs gone

[Mike]

We would of won if it wasn't for that stupid over near the end where 20 went of it

[maehara]

SA win by 8. Good performance by the batsmen again, though - wonder what Flower's been doing with them in the few weeks he's been working with them!!

[CrimsonAvenger]

Saying that we have given a good account of ourselves in both matches today, would be an understatement. Great stuff, to see us fight like this. This certainly is a step in right direction.

[aydee]

Shame. That was a chase to be proud of though. If there had just been a little bit more discipline with the ball, it would have a been a victory.

[Mike]

I think it was a very good performance. Bowling was dodgy, but we were missing Ray Price so I wouldn't be overly concerned. I tthought Chibhabha played really, really well. And Taylor played well as well (as always hahaha)!

Shows how much we have improved! A couple of years of ago we would have got steam rolled !

I just can't wait for the world cup as then we'll be able to judge where we really are because at the moment teams will play aren't playing there 'proper' teams against us

[CrimsonAvenger]

But wouldn't it have been a good idea to have Williams fly in to SA to fill in for Grant Flower's absence? He would have provided 4 decent overs if nothing else...

HM and BRMT are back amongst runs, and Chibhabha looks in really good nick. We must be keeping up the good show in ODIs as well. Pacers are still the worry. Mpofu and Rainsford are hot and cold. Others are too inexperienced.

We still can't imagine a bowling line up without the Legend. The sooner he is back, the better.

[sloandog]

Okay here's my review of proceedings in today's game.
The Bowling
I think it was important that we changed things about with the bowling after what happened on Friday Night, and to see Utsea and Shingrai Mazakadza open the bowling was good to see. Though Mazakadza may have gone for a few in his opening burst, he's shown me that he's got the ability to bowl with some heat, and he has a wicked slower ball (Something that the other pace bowlers could develop in the future). Utsea bowled okay, didn't spin the ball but he did what he does best by keeping the runs down. Having got rid of Ingram and Bosman things looked good, but Mpofu was then given the ball ! What's the deal with this guy ?? I thought he's improved as a fast bowler. I know it's only a couple of T20's, but come on, this international cricket for Christ sake, and bowling three long hops on leg stump with fine leg up just isn't good enough. And in all honesty it got worse and worse for him. Graeme Cremer didn't bowl too well today, but he was bowling against left handers almost all the way through the innings, and the ground was tiny, so i'll let him off

Why Dabengwa is in this side is beyond me. His off spin....i mean no disrespect to him, but i rreckon our pro could bowl better than that. (Even Brendan Taylor spun the ball). His batting has much to be desired aswell, is he in our ODI squad ??

The batting
I've been very impressed with our batting in these two T20 games. Mazakadza has shown us that he's a dangerous player at the top when settled, and Brendan Taylor outlined his class today with a fluent 59. I was equally impressed with Chamu Chibhaba. I didn't think he was this good ! He's got an array of dazzling shots, and some of those 6's were great to watch. I can't remember if he's in our ODI squad, but if he is, then we have another inform batter to go with the other 6/7.
Charles Coventry He's so hit and miss now days isn't he. In the first T20, i thought it was his ideal situation, and when he walked in today and smoked that monstrous six off Rusty Theron, I was on the edge of my seat. But, once again, he failed to deliver, and i think it's now time he goes back to Zimbabwe and works hard on his game. He's got a lot of talent Coventry, but seems to be lacking the common sense to play the correct shot. Chigumbura came in late and scored to runs, as did Taibu, but by that time the game had already been lost.

What have we learnt
. We're still lacking in the pace department, and it's been a huge eye opener as to where we stand with Mpofu and Rainsford. I think Ian Nicholson should definitely be given a chance in the first ODI on Friday, and possibly take the new ball with Shingrai Mazakadza.

. Our batting has come on leaps and bounds. Guys like Chibhaba, Taylor and Hamilton Mazakadza have outlined their class, and with batting reinforcements in Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and Grant Floower on the way, things can only get better.

Well played Zimbabwe, we've competed and performed well. Role on Friday

[brmtaylor.com admin]

It is disappointing to lose a close match, but there is no point dwelling on it. The big picture looks good.

Taking off the Zimbabwe hat for a second - today's match was a classic Twenty20. A batsman's game is a spectators game. The South Africans batted beautifully led by Duminy, and in reply Taylor was sublime while Chibhabha and Chigumbura were outstanding too. The game really ebbed and flowed, while Taylor and Chibhabha were out there it looked like Zimbabwe were in control. In fact, it wasn't until Taylor got out that Zimbabwe looked shaky. Even once South Africa almost had it in the bag when the RRR was up around 17, Chigumbura's onslaught off Parnell brought Zimbabwe back in it. Had Chigumbura not gone for that second run and Taibu had got a boundary (or even a 2) off that final ball the result may have been different.

It was a good move by Chigumbura to open with Utseya. As others have said, Price is the heart of the bowling attack and he was sorely missed in this series. The Taylor move was interesting, it certainly paid off.

But as I said, the big picture looks good. Both teams were below their best - South Africa are missing a few key players while unquestionably the Zimbabwean bowlers performed below their capabilities. Mpofu and Rainsford, and even Cremer, are much better than the figures from these Twenty20's would suggest. Dabengwa for G Flower is the obvious change ahead of the ODIs, while Coventry will presumably make way for Williams. I hope Coventry doesn't get typecast as a Twenty20 only player - despite getting out early, he actually looked in really good touch.