MATCH THREAD! West Indies vs Zimbabwe 2nd test @ Queens Bulawayo

[Jemisi]

Hami is tired. Nice, safe catch but he looked quite stiff.

[sloandog]

Zimbabwe's best spinner once again makes the break through, top cricket!

[pariah]

Brathwaite is a big wicket in this WI line up. Well done Cremer.

Very unfair of WI to use a nightwatchman against ZIM like this after batting conservatively. Especially after ZIm did so well with the over rate following WI's pathetic over rate. That's unsporting behaviour

[Jemisi]

Windies still shade the session, but close to a draw.

[Jemisi]

shocked by our over rate. so retro.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

On the plus side, it gives Zim great incentive to come out tomorrow morning full of energy knowing that they - hopefully - will pick up an early wicket.

Leading by 248 at the end of day 2... I'd have taken that before the game let alone at 3/14. With a bit of luck WI will continue to bat for the draw tomorrow.

[Googly]

Brathwaite is a big wicket in this WI line up. Well done Cremer.

Very unfair of WI to use a nightwatchman against ZIM like this after batting conservatively. Especially after ZIm did so well with the over rate following WI's pathetic over rate. That's unsporting behaviour

What do you think is unsporting about a night watchman?

[Kriterion_BD]

On the plus side, it gives Zim great incentive to come out tomorrow morning full of energy knowing that they - hopefully - will pick up an early wicket.

Leading by 248 at the end of day 2... I'd have taken that before the game let alone at 3/14. With a bit of luck WI will continue to bat for the draw tomorrow.

I don't believe WI are batting for the draw...not this early on after dismissing a team winning the toss for under 350. Brathwaite is a notoriously slow opener and ZIM are generally noted for bowling very defensive lines to a stacked field (as proof I think they have one the lowest econ rates in Test cricket this decade). I would anticipate the run rate to accelerate tomorrow, unless the WI get bundled out cheaply. But it appears this pitch isn't exactly a minefield given they've batted 50+ overs for only 1 down.

This match is in the balance though due to WI slow batting and ZIM's good bowling/fielding. ZIM must continue to do the same and ensure that they are batting again by the end of Day 3 or the scores are level. Then ZIM can target a draw.

Are they going 8-3 again in this game?

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... ;type=team

ZIM have the 2nd best econ rate in Tests this decade, indicating teams either bat very cautiously against them and/or the ZIM bowlers and fielders have very good discipline.

[jaybro]

Who dropped the catches ?

Were They easy ones?

[Shortleg]

Kriterion interesting point you make about the low economy rates. I remember in the last test against SA in Harare the SA players mentioned how hard it was to get the Zim bowlers away and that they bowled a nagging line and length on slow pitches (prepared to negate opposition seamers and therefore completely playing ours out of the game). I guess with 0 fire power whatsoever in the attack their main strategy especially against top sides is to contain and bore the opposition batters until they make a mistake. The more recent focus (since streak has arrived?) however has turned to producing turning wickets and learning to play spin better but we still rely on defensive spinners apart from Cremer. Zim turning into a subcontinent side??? We desperately need to nurture some fast bowling talent and I guess it needs to start with preparing pitches that encourage the seamers especially at schoolboy level as I remember most pitches I played on were low and slow right through age group level.