Series Thread: Al Barakha Cup (Canada T20)

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Tibbly has to prove that he is class apart.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

4/61 now (according to Cricinfo)... bordering on a collapse here. Chigumbura is the last recognised batsman as Maruma is batting at number 7 (Maruma, Utseya and Price in the same team defies logic IMO, but let's see... maybe it is a spinners paradise).

Now Cricinfo say 4/76 thanks to some Boom Boom magic (six and four). Taibu 16 from 21, Chigumbura 12 from 8.

This stream works now incidentally:

http://omasti101.com/wp2/sri-lanka-vs-z ... streaming/

Quite well I might add, no buffering. 5/77 now, looks like Mendis stuck off his second ball. I think Elton got out...

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Heh, 6/80 now. Nice reverse sweep by Taibu, but Maruma was run out for 3. Looks like we are finished unless Utseya can work some magic with bat and ball.

Taibu needs to do something special here (27 not out so far)

As for the pitch report, it looks horrible. 4444444444 from Taibu. 32 from 35.

Edit: 6/92, Taibu 38* from 40, Utseya 1* from 2. This hasn't been an embarrassing performance by Zimbabwe - there's no Taylor, Sibanda. No Williams. A run rate of 6.27 is acceptable. Remember this is only a 17 over affair, we are in the 14th over. Taibu is playing well.

Edit 2: Utseya bamboozled by Mendis, unsurprisingly. 7/95 after 15.2... Price worked Mendis away first ball, impressive shot by Raymond (he is a class spinner though, I suppose he knows what to expect).

Edit 3: Price out to Mendis haha how ironic, 8/97. Let's hope we get to 100. Taibu still out there.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

100 up for Zimbabwe, Taibu on strike 42 from 44, last over now.

For those interested, Price's dismissal wasn't because Mendis turn him inside out or anything. It was a classic slog to deep mid wicket.

Mupariwa currently on 1*, Taibu on strike for the last 3 balls. 8/102.

Edit: 2 balls to go in the innings, Taibu on 45*. Great running by the boys.

Edit 2: Taibu gives away the single, 8/105 - Mupariwa to take the last ball.

Final score: 8/106 from 17 overs - Taibu unbeaten on 46.

Matsikenyeri 1, Masakadza 22, Chamu 13, Taibu 45*, Dabengwa 4, Elton 5, Maruma 3, Price 1, Mupariwa 2... didn't see Utseya's score, think he got 1 or 2. I think Cricinfo's scorecard is wrong, as these were the scores given by the TV station.

Commentators are quite critical of Zimbabwe's performance (saying that 150 was on the cards... )... I actually think 106 is a decent score. Hey, it probably won't be enough to win the match, but it's a decent score and well done to Masakadza and Taibu who did the damage.

Masakadza was a treat to watch for the first few overs, Taibu was classy towards the end. Matsikenyeri must be dropped now - this was his opportunity, and he did nothing. Please bring in Zhuwawo against Canada.

Having a look at the replies of the wickets, Zimbabwe really struggled against Mendis - 4/15 in the end for him. Maharoof and Thushara with 2 and 1 respectively, their wickets more or less from silly shots though.




Edit: Mupariwa's first over was quite good. Utseya stupidly left Mpofu in the attack, he soon got smashed for 6. Mpofu is 6' 3", he is very tall but he isn't at all bulky. If he could put on a few kilos he would probably be a bit more intimidating. 0/31 from 3 overs.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Mpofu opened the bowling (not Chigumbura, obviously Utseya isn't thinking clearly)... and got smashed for for 4 from the first two balls.

Well, any chance we had of an upset is gone now. Damn Prosper, Chigumbura and Mupariwa were the blokes to use...

Speed: 131.3kmh, 131.0kmh... at least he's got a bit of speed. That is promising if nothing else, it would be nice to see some 140's. The ultimate slower ball by Mpofu... 75kmh Think that might be a mistake.

This over: 4 4 0 0 wd 3 2

0/14 from 1 over, Mupariwa to take the new ball from the Southern End.

[Kopje]

Mpofu is killing us , he shouldnt have openned

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Match is gone. Courtesy Mpofu ( 25 runs in 2 overs)

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Mpofu is killing us , he shouldnt have openned

Utseya is as much to blame. He left him on for a second over!

Mupariwa is looking really good, it has to be said. Or maybe he just looks so good because he's not following much of an act... nah, he is bowling really well. Sri Lanka aren't picking him.

Price just dropped a catch off Mupariwa... not sure who the batsman was, tough into the sun though.

Get Chigumbura on!!!

[brmtaylor.com admin]

WICKET!!!!!!

Chigumbura strikes second ball, massive hit straight up in the air, very nice catch by Maruma who was also in the sun.

What the hell was Utseya thinking opening with Mpofu, what a costly decision.

1/40

Elton's speed is in the 120's, Mupariwa's in the high 110's.

[Kopje]

Great catch there, considering how high the ball went and the sun too.