[Match Thread] Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (Group B 2nd Match)

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Chappie, chappie, chappie

[sloandog]

106 to win !! In 11 overs
Good luck boys am off to watch

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Was it cricketing spirit or self-destruction?

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Well, the rain is back and play is stopped bang on the 5th over - so that leaves Sri Lanka ahead on Duckworth Lewis and with the likely win. Very unfortunate, it was bad luck for Zimbabwe but in these rain affected / reduced overs matches it is always going to be unfair on someone.

Zimbabwe will need to hammer New Zealand to make it through now.

[Mike]

Why didn't we time waste?

Yes its against the rules and nature of the game, but I know that most teams would of done this.

At least we have gained a lot of experiance which we can build on which is a major plus and like I said, we bowled well. We restricted some very good batsmen (a part from Jayawardene )

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Rain started 3 balls before the deadline of 5 overs to constitute a match. Zim were way behind thanks to some poor cricketing decision of not sending hitters at no.3. Even then, the guys had the chance to slow down a things bit so that match stopped at 4.5 overs (which was possible). Cricketing spirit wise guys did well but there was a chance to grab for the progression into next round. That was blown. Was it right or wrong is debatable but i couldnt find any logic in staying back Eltie/Choppie/Erwine.

A world stage to perform is a rare entity for us. We shocked Aussies in first WC, was denied visas for the second, and did initially well in this edition (warm-ups sadly hardly matters). We again faltered. 44 after 5 overs should have been our first priority taking into consideration the conditions.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Why didn't we time waste?

Yes its against the rules and nature of the game, but I know that most teams would of done this.

At least we have gained a lot of experiance which we can build on which is a major plus and like I said, we bowled well. We restricted some very good batsmen (a part from Jayawardene )

When we are denied to play in top events and when silly countries like NZ, Aussies didnot fulfill their commitments then we have full right to use other tactics. Nobody cares if we bowled well or not, what matters is SL=2, ZIM=0 and a poor NRR.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

cricinfo: 12:59pm Sri Lanka have won the game by 14 runs, by the Duckworth/Lewis method. So that's the end of this game, and Zimbabwe should be kicking themselves for not going harder in the five overs of play that was possible. The par score was 43, as Shaun Pollock would tell you, you need to be one above that for a win. Zim finished at 29, leaving them 14 short of the par score.

NRR

sRI Lanka +0.355
New Zealand +0.258
Zimbabwe -2.800

A mountain to climb and perhaps the tournament is over. I am so sad.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

It's easy to look back and say we should have done this or that, but when you are talking about reduced overs matches it's never going to be fair.

Had we sent Chigumbura out at number three and lost quick wickets, that D/L target of 44 could have skyrocketed. Had we tried to waste time at the 4.5 over mark, the umpires might have played the final ball anyway (as they weren't impressed with the openers taking so long to walk out at the start of the innings). Who knows?

All the team brainstrust can do is look to tomorrow's match against New Zealand and work out the NRR we need to progress to the next stage, and hope the players play out of their skins to achieve that result.

I think it's unfair what happened tonight, but I also accept that it's a fact of cricket. Strictly from a playing perspective, Zimbabwe did not disgrace themselves tonight.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

It's understandable that those who were in middle were in the thick of the things but after the fall of 1st wkt, Mr Butcher should have sent the right person. In 1st T20 we were knocked out coz of NRR. Tomorow i am sure we will be able to beat NZ but i am worried about the NRR thing. Its MINUS 2 and today we couldnot achieve 6+ RR.