Match Thread: Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh 1st Test (20th-24th April 2025)

[CholeZimbo]

And our Keeper has to be sharp in that crucial period, can’t afford another drop. I’m thinking to keep it simple, and very tight, forget the “wicket taking” deliveries, just wicket to wicket and good length.

In the morning I’d open with Big Bless and Wellington on the other end to just bowl accurately and close the tap. The mistake will come. They also went 10 overs without a run at some point today, so it is doable.

[Pat_Bee]

Mayavo is a world class keeper. All this propaganda against him is a Rhodie cabal funded smear campaign organised on WhatsApp and paid for with proceeds of tobacco farming.

[Kriterion_BD]

A lotta of talk about the new ball but I think if you’re relying on the new ball, the games already lost.

23 overs at a modest 2.5 runs/over is 57 runs which takes the lead to 169. Now 170 is low key defendable with this attack in these conditions. Historically the highest chase is 162 which also confirms that.

But you may not need to wait for the new ball especially if the ball starts doing stuff early in the am. One more wicket and you’re into the tail. Miraz can be a decent bat but he’s inconsistent and out of form. Taijul is a genuine number 9 and the seamers are all genuine #11s. It’s entirely in the realm of possibility to keep the lead under 150 even.

[Kriterion_BD]

Start of play delayed by a wet outfield...hopefully just a 1 hour delay and we get around 75 overs in today...

Just saw the highlights of Day 3...apart from the Mayavo drop, Shanto is looking in imperious touch. Looked great in the first innings as well before getting out. As poor as his record has been, he almost never throws his wicket away. He's usually just done in by the bowler. But he's looking in form and determined here. He needs a big one to bail the team out.

Joker and Mehidy also need to get some runs and ditto for Taijul and the tail. Batting time is irrelevant...we've somehow got to stack another 90+ runs and do so reasonably quickly as well with so much rain in the forecast. I'll be happy if we can get 120 more overs in for this Test and that means we really don't want to bat more than another 40 overs tops.

[Pat_Bee]

Wet outfield saving Zimdesh here you’d have to say

[Googly]

Kriterion - when is monsoon season in Bangladesh?
Ya you're right about the 23 over thing. At 4 an over its a lot of runs, almost enough.

[CholeZimbo]

True and that’s why I also mentioned the first hour being crucial. Even with this old ball we do need to grab at least 2 wickets in these 23 overs and be in the tail by the time we get to the new ball. Bangladesh will likely get close to 200, but if we can restrict them to that, either side of the figure, I fancy our batters to chase as there are no demons on this pitch (well, yet). If we can’t chase 200 runs then oh well, we’ve already lost then because they are at least getting there.

[Pat_Bee]

We aren’t winning no ways. 13% win rate says not.

[Andy31]

I feel the first hour of play will determine the test.

Bang will need to come out aggressive. Cant just survive.

and will who will step up for Zim that isnt just Blessing.

[Andy31]

Annnnd gone.

i dont know if Zim do an Alan border medal type award but just give it to Blessing each year.