Match Thread : Sri Lanka Tour Of Zimbabwe 2020 | 1st Test | Zimbabwe V/s Sri Lanka | Harare

[sloandog]

Right what’s going on now? Tiripano has faced 44 deliveries for 8 runs, and we have 306 on the board. Press on and get the scoreboard ticking

[foreignfield]

It's a shame we can't programme our players to play risk-free cricket at 3.5 rpo while keeping their wickets intact

I still don't see any evidence that the team strategy was to bat slowly at all cost as Kriterion and Zimdoggy seem to think. The idea was probably not to collaps on the first morning when traditionally HSC offers a bit for the seamers and then cash in later. Part one worked, part two not so much ... Evine batted normally after his usual slow start, BT wasn't blocking either, and Williams indeed was maybe a bit rusty early on.

That the SL seamers are falling asleep between deliveries has also not helped anyone.

[TapsC]

And Raza has just shown what playing aggressive cricket usually leads to for us. Good start. Out in a silly way

[foreignfield]

Right what’s going on now? Tiripano has faced 44 deliveries for 8 runs, and we have 306 on the board. Press on and get the scoreboard ticking

And on clue Raza runs down the wicket and gets stumped.

Time for the Don to play some shots, methinks.

[TapsC]

Aggressive cricket does not work for us. I don't know why people can't see that

[Kriterion_BD]

Aggressive cricket does not work for us. I don't know why people can't see that

Not aggressive, fluid batting. The thing is, Raza and Chakabva may have realized that 350 will be an underpar target on this surface and that they are behind due to the slow batting by the top order and/or inability for the top order to get 100s instead of 50s. That might explain how both Raza and Regis got out fairly softly.

[TapsC]

Aggressive cricket does not work for us. I don't know why people can't see that

Not aggressive, fluid batting. The thing is, Raza and Chakabva may have realized that 350 will be an underpar target on this surface and that they are behind due to the slow batting by the top order and/or inability for the top order to get 100s instead of 50s. That might explain how both Raza and Regis got out fairly softly.

This is where I don't agree. Is it the top orders fault here for not scoring quickly or the middle order who failed? Who exactly is at fault here. there are no demons on this wicket so you can't say the conditions changed for anybody

[jaybro]

Yeup rash shots from a few guys has ruined all the hard work

Still not sure this pitch is quite as good as people say, seems like the ball isn't coming on and the outfield is slow

Probably under par score but still in the game for sure

[ZIMDOGGY]

I don’t think it’s strategy to go slow.
Besides kriterion and I and a couple others, commentators are also critical.

It’s more a guy on debut overly nervous, and another guy on his last shot at the team just as nervous.

Raza played well and Craig. Craig played how I’d expect. Cautious early then slight lord freely but still cautious.

Basically the overly cautious start hasn’t really helped us except probably cost us 40-50 more safe runs we could have had now.

As for Tiffin, I looked him up earlier and he hasn’t umpires an international for 18 months which is in line with my memory of where I saw his name on a scorecard last. Can’t see any retirement announcements, I’d say he just got dumped. He wasn’t up to it internationally like Sloan said.
I’ve seen through a mate what it takes to rise up the ranks in umpiring. He’s just cracked the BBL now but it is so cut throat. Most competitive place in cricket. To be fair there really is no room for a passenger. Too many dedicating their lives to the dream, studying an hour the players names the night before. Sacrificing a paid career to do mid week rep gigs. Having to keep mind and body alert and healthy, and feigning off the ex players (like Reiffel) who get fast tracked to the top.

Back to the game.
The plan here now should be to get to 350. Cautious batting but take the shots on offer.

This has been the zimdoggy opinion.

[sloandog]

The top order did well, but Sean Williams should have kicked on and Craig Ervine should have also increased the scoring rate, he was well and truly set.
Raza's shot was awful, i didn't see Regi's.

I we can scrape to 350 i'll be relatively happy, but we should have reached 400 minimum. The left arm spinner, despite what a lot of people are saying, I think is a decent bowler. He took 5 wickets on debut in SA on a rock hard deck. He's very canny and varies he speeds impressively.