Series Thread: Zimbabwe President's XI in Deodhar Trophy

[CrimsonAvenger]

So, it was Chibhabha who opened with Masakadza after all, and Utseya came at 3. We were hoping for Utseya at 4, but 3 seems to be too high for him in the batting order. Not a great batting effort, by the way, 193 all out with a ball to spare. Mutizwa top scoring with 40, Matsikenyeri 36, and at one stage we were in dire straits with 145/8. Thanks to the 48 run stand of Cremer and the Legend, there is now some hope.

Looking at the bowling, the spinners have dominated. Offie Ashwin and the likable young left arm spinner Appanna have bowled 20 overs between them, taking 4 wickets giving away only 61. Can Pricey, Utseya and Cremer weave magic to win it from here? One thing for sure, We must get Uthappa early to even think of trying to get a win here.

[jimbo]

Its such a pity that we dont have williams batting prowess or sibanda in the squad!!. Like I said in a previous post if williams has indeed left and he always had designs on leaving then he should have left post sri-lanka series. That way we could have blooded a youngster who had potential to play in these matches much like we did with waller and mutitzwa

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Your prayer answered Venky, Robin gone. After 15 overs its around 60 for 3. Our chief destroyer spin trio is yet to come though. So not a bad situation at all.

I agree with BRMT as far as ICL is concerned but IPL was a huge hit both publicity wise, entertainment as well as, very imp, cricket wise.

As far as coverage of Zim's arrival is concerned, its the same cold response. When they last played here, it was like this only. So why complain? At least we have
ZCF this time.

[zimfan1]

looks like we lost my three wickets not a bad effoert as many were fearing that we would be thrashed

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Simply not enough runs, the bowlers did their bit but the batsmen didn't do enough. Anything below 240 was always going to be a stretch to defend.

Can't complain about Mutizwa's performance though; top score of 40, he's settling into the team well.

Number 3 as already mentioned is a touch high for Utseya. I like the initiative, but he will play better in the middle order I think. If he comes in about 20 overs into the innings (ideally), he will be playing the spinners which he handles well, and the lesser quality pace bowlers.

Waller is struggling and will probably be replaced by Chakabva. As always, Dabengwa did nothing. Stumped on 6 and bowled 2 overs for 17... But as we know he is immune from being dropped.

Positives in the bowling department, they gave it a red hot crack. Mainly the spinners, Price was outstanding economy wise as usual. Cremer kept the pressure on with wickets although was probably used too late in the innings. Utseya was handy. All three spinners should have bowled more overs. The opening bowlers were a bit expensive but not too bad, it looks like Rainsford and Chigumbura got a hammering in the final few overs.

Also, Cremer and Price with the bat weren't bad. It was that partnership which gave respectability to the score. If they can put on 50 odd together, why can't Waller and Chigumbura? Or Chigumbura or Dabengwa, etc?

Changes for the next match: Chakabva brought in for Waller (a certainty), Mupariwa brought in for Dabengwa (wishful thinking).
Open with Masakadza and Chakabva, Chibhabha at 3 and then Utseya at 4. Then Matsikenyeri, Mutizwa, Chigumbura, Cremer, Price, Mupariwa, Rainsford.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

6 runs with bat and a bowling economy of 6 plus with solitary wicket- A bad result to celebrate birthday.
Still we love you Elton.
MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY

[aydee]

Not a disaster, but as suspected, light on the batting. Mutizwa continues to impress, but there doesn't seem to be any really class top order bat who can be relied on. Williams, Taylor, Taibu, Sibanda, Coventry would surely all improve this XI...

[CrimsonAvenger]

This was our best chance for a win. West Zone is clearly the strongest side in the competition. If we can avoid a heavy defeat there, we should be happy. But a good day for Chigumbura and Masakadza, and you never know...

Now, I am sure, everybody will suddenly wake up, and start reporting religiously about Zimbabwe and its performances, comparing this team with the Streak Era, and degrading the current crop, without even taking a look at their records. Hope we can hog the limelight by producing something extra-ordinary to win against West on Monday. (Wishful Thinking here too )

Changes for the next match: Chakabva brought in for Waller (a certainty), Mupariwa brought in for Dabengwa (wishful thinking).
Open with Masakadza and Chakabva, Chibhabha at 3 and then Utseya at 4. Then Matsikenyeri, Mutizwa, Chigumbura, Cremer, Price, Mupariwa, Rainsford.

No doubt about the team there, that should be the one to take field, come Monday.

[Detective RDS]

Match Report:

Link: http://content.cricinfo.com/deodhartrop ... 95234.html

Deodhar Trophy 2008-09

South Zone beat Zimbabweans

Cricinfo staff

March 14, 2009

South Zone handed this season's overseas imports, the Zimbabwe President's XI, defeat in their first match of the tournament. A good performance in the field limited the tourists to 193 and then half-centuries from Arjun Yadav and R Ashwin helped South to a three-wicket win at the Ravenshaw College Ground.

Prosper Utseya's decision to bat first didn't work out as planned. Despite a 41-run partnership for the first wicket, the openers were dismissed in consecutive openers and Utseya, coming in at No. 3, made a duck as the Zimbabweans slipped to 44 for 3. Stuart Matsikenyeri (36) and Forster Mutizwa (40) helped resuscitate the innings through their 79-run alliance, only for the pair to be sent back in the space of 12 deliveries. The Zimbabweans never really recovered from that double-strike, losing five wickets for 22 runs, and even a 48-run stand for the ninth wicket wasn't enough to post a challenging total.

The Zimbabweans launched a confident start with the ball. The dangerous Robin Uthappa was sent packing for 1 and the South captain, S Badrinath, was dismissed for 12. At 80 for 5 it was anyone's game but the partnership of Yadav and Ashwin tilted it South's way with a 103-run stand. Yadav hit 71 from 90 balls, with four sixes, and Ashwin steered South across the finish line with an unbeaten 62-ball 50. There were still ten overs remaining in their innings.

Ishank Jaggi's century and four wickets from Dhiraj Goswami formed the crux of East Zone's 65-run win over North Zone at the Barabati Stadium. Put in to bat, North were given a 98-run opening stand from Wriddhiman Saha and Natraj Behera (41), after which Jaggi joined forces with Saha to further torment North. Saha stroked 11 fours in making 84 from 98 balls, and though two wickets fell for one run, Jaggi found an able ally in Saurabh Tiwary. The youngsters put on 111 for the fourth wicket. Tiwary's contribution was 52 from 45 balls and Jaggi played out the entire innings to remain unbeaten on 110 from 98 balls. He hit nine fours and a couple sixes and East finished with 305 for 6.

Aakash Chopra had to look on in strife as North slipped to 40 for 3. Goswami accounted for Rahul Dewan and Virat Kohli to pile on the early pressure, and though Chopra added 57 with Uday Kaul, his dismissal for 58 in the 25th over left the team without a steady hand. Kaul followed soon after his captain, becoming Manoj Tiwary's second wicket. Mithun Manhas, North's captain, hit an academic 58 from 55 balls and Goswami finished with a career-best 4 for 35 as victory was achieved in the final over.

© Cricinfo

[Detective RDS]

Full Scorecard: http://content.cricinfo.com/deodhartrop ... 89631.html

Looks like I was right about Chibhabha opening and did well scoring 27.Good contribution by Matsikenyeri(36) and Mutizwa(40).At the end by Cremer(19) and Price(26).

Wrong strategy to bring Utseya in no 3.I would like to see him at no 7.Worth noting,Vermeulen scored 80 coming at no 4 for 'A' team.So,when Mark is on,he will bat at 4.I like the idea Chibhabha opening.He can play aggressively in Powerplay 1.He is a far more better player than Sibanda.

I also think that Malcolm Waller will be dropped for next match.He averages just over 19 in 21 List A match.Not a good record at all!

Looks like Masakadza and Chibhabha was given bowl before introducing Price,Cremer and himself.Zimbabwe should rely more on spinners and attack with them.

I would like to see this side for next match:

1.Masakadza,2.Chibhabha,3.Matsikenyeri,4.Chakabva,5.Mutizwa,6.Chigumbura,7.Utseya,
8.Price,9.Cremer,10.Mupariwa,11.Rainsford