Zimbabwe Vs SA |3rd T20 | Harare | 20 July 2025

[Googly]

Just read a funny post- can Ian Prior please open with Bennett today.
Not that Wes did badly at all in the context of the game. It was only run a ball, which generally means you've chewed up deliveries, but both teams struggled in the power play, so in hindsight not bad at all, but you have to go on from there or you have put your team in a poor position. Aside from those two reverses and that shot over extra no real strong shots though. I'm not talking him down, merely analysing his innings. The talk is now that he's born to open.
I agree he is likely to do better opening because he has got good technique and capable of using the pace of the ball, but that new ball is doing a lot in the first 4. These SA blokes are going to bowl heavy lengths. He's got the ability to walk at these guys, gives you a lot of options if you do it well.
Ramps and scoops might relieve some pressure.
Bennett needs to be less static on his crease and be prepared to fetch that wider ball, and hes going to get bounced.

Here are his last dozen innings -
0 13 8 7 4 4 21 11 1 0 1 36 averaging around 9.
Is there anybody that gets this many opportunities when theyre doing poorly? Well yes, certainly in Zim. Top scoring with a runa ball 30 in a battering also helps with re-selection, but that's a low bar to wax lyrical about a guy. Its best to keep quiet and hope he can do better. When Ervine gets a run a ball 25-30 he's bogged it. When Wes gets one he's the future and the future captain.

[Pat_Bee]

Context lol, Wez was striking at 130 for a large part of his innings then had to slow it down to consolidate when guys at the other end kept getting out

[Irwin Goodman]

Context lol, Wez was striking at 130 for a large part of his innings then had to slow it down to consolidate when guys at the other end kept getting out

Clive did add pressure on both in the last 2 games. Burl should be promoted to 3, since they've claimed it to be an experimental side. So why not promote the experienced one?
Either Musekiwa or Tony should be ahead of Raza (although depending on the situation) Clive rightfully at 7, with this current squad.

[Googly]

There was actually a bit of morning rain and it is bitterly cold and overcast at the moment.

[Pat_Bee]

Bitterly cold african guys say that then it turns out it’s as warm as a summer day in England

[Irwin Goodman]

that weather seems like an average spring in Finland.
I was in Bangladesh during winter time (Dec-Jan), for the local people it was quite cold. Especially when everyone cannot afford the heater. Is it same issue in Harare?

[Pat_Bee]

I remember Tino on commentary once saying bring your jacket if you’re coming down to the ground today, it’s a crisp 20 C
Like wtf Tino that’s heatwave weather in England bro

[Irwin Goodman]

[ quote=Pat_Bee post_id=294075 time=1753003768 user_id=79152]
I remember Tino on commentary once saying bring your jacket if you’re coming down to the ground today, it’s a crisp 20 C
Like wtf Tino that’s heatwave weather in England bro
[/quote]

Yoooo!
Though I misheard that from Tino

[Pat_Bee]

[quote=Pat_Bee post_id=294069 time=<a href="tel:1752998611">1752998611</a> user_id=79152]
Context lol, Wez was striking at 130 for a large part of his innings then had to slow it down to consolidate when guys at the other end kept getting out

Clive did add pressure on both in the last 2 games. Burl should be promoted to 3, since they've claimed it to be an experimental side. So why not promote the experienced one?
Either Musekiwa or Tony should be ahead of Raza (although depending on the situation) Clive rightfully at 7, with this current squad.
[/quote]

Raza should be higher, not lower, I think. Need your best strikers up top and we have guys like musekiwa and munyonga coming in later to finish the job. Unless he’s pedalling propaganda in the presser and in truth has no faith whatsoever in the finishers. Better to be ahead of the rate from the start than go at run a ball hoping for a big over or two at the end.

[Googly]

Against the lesser sides Raza has often hidden our woeful inadequacies. We actually need a few games without him. He's let ZC hide some guys in the team that shouldnt be there.