Series thread: Board XI v PNCA

[Train Driver]

I know this is probably a silly question, but does anyone have any news of the first days play

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I've made this the match thread.

We know very little about the current match state, although I think Pakistan Academy are batting first. Ahmad Shehzad made 76, Fawad Alam might have made a few runs as well.

Some info at http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/zimbabw ... ect=362388 - not much though.

[Train Driver]

According to cricinfo the PNCA finished day one on 330-6 with what appears to be 5 batsman making 50's.

For Zim Trevor Garwe took 2 wickets, both catches by Tafadzwa Ngulube, Timycen Maruma also took 2 and a catch by wicket keeper Regis Chakabva gave Prosper Tsvanhu 1.

No other details available from cricinfo at this time.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Day 2

Zimbabwe Board XI 101 for 5 (Mujuru 45*, Chakabva 25*, Anwar Ali 3-18) trail Pakistan Academy 482 for 7 dec (Ali Asad 101*, Anwar Ali 90) by 381 runs

[aydee]

Mujuru took his score to 90 on the third day. An encouraging performance. If I remember right, he played some good knocks in the SAA competitions last season. Brad Staddon scored 27.

[maehara]

Result:
Pakistan Academy 482/7 dec (Ali Asad 101*) & 103/2 dec (Manzoor 51), Zimbabwe Board XI 189 (Mujuru 90*) & 194 (Kamungozi 37, Shah 5/72). Pakistan Academy win by 202 runs.

Brief match report.

[jimbo]

I would get the likes of friday kasteni and prince masvaure in for the next match. Who is this sam mwayenki and charumbira??? They are playing in the top order in this match and none of them have any scores either in list a or first class to speak of. Zimbabwe selectors got what they deserved in this match. It certainly isnt a meritocricy anymore

[Train Driver]

Certainly some very strange events in this game.

According to the cricinfo scorecard, this game has not been granted first class status, presumably ZC will be able to claim that they have done nothing other than give fringe players an opportunity for some experience rather than that they have thrown another group of untried players to the lions and been beaten yet again.

I know that there is the possibility of a nightwatchman etc, but Chakabva batting at 6 & 8, Chauluka at 7 & 5, Staddon at 8 & 2, Charumbira at 3 ?, what is the purpose of all that ??

Muzarabani, Masakadza, Masvaure and Kasteni all left out of the side, perhaps it's just good manners so that the hosts didn't beat the tourists too easily

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Strange... the lack of First Class status will be a shame for Mujuru. An unbeaten 90 odd would have been good for his average.

As for the lack of big name players, I was told that there was a Super League prior to the beginning of the tour consisting of 3 teams (mainly fringe players) and those that performed well got selected for the squad against the Pakistan Academy. This explains why guys like Aliseni and Charumbira were selected, they did well in the Super League. That's one mystery solved... don't know the logic in playing stars (a relative term) like Chakabva and Staddon down the order though.

[aydee]

I think that the match isn't first class because the Pakistan academy are probably not a first class side, believe it or not. The recent matches between Bangladesh and South Africa's Academy sides weren't first class, neither were the the full Bangladesh side's one day games against the Australian Institute of Sport List A matches.