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

[tawac]

Zimbabwean wins are always few and far between but we seem to be picking wins in every series we play which is very good. The competition for places in the side will ordinarily mean we hardly have passengers any more. Good contributions all round. Bennet is definitely a generational talent he is. Good win today.

[Kriterion_BD]

My take on the game:

ZIM were finally able to throw the monkey off the back by finishing off a game were they had the early advantage after failing to do so vs Afghanistan and Ireland in 3 successive Tests. I really thought, Bangladesh would always come back to win the game, and even when we had only posted a target of 174, I had Bangladesh as firm favorites. And they almost got it done...but almost isn't good enough!

Blessing (9/10) - pretty much a perfect performance taking 9 for 122. Only thing separating his performance from a 10 was a slightly highish economy rate in the 2nd innings, but thats really just finding a fault. His accuracy was overall really good, and thats why he was able to get so many wickets so cheaply...he kept bowling that hard length on the channel forcing batters to play at it. Bowled at decent pace as well low to mid 130s in the first dig, and then mid to high 130s in the second.

Bennett (7/10) - Hard to believe he's only 21...he plays with a lot more poise and confidence than many senior pros. Sometimes fifties can win you matches on a lower scoring/sporting surface, and this was exactly that. Given the match context, a fifty was equivalent to a century. Opening is always tough, and this Bangladesh attack is nothing to scoff at, so was a geniunely good performance.

Wellington (6.5/10) - Took some vital wickets, and bowled very economically. You can't really ask for much more than that.

Williams (6/10) - 1 solid innings. You do expect a bit more from a guy with his experience and he did throw his wicket away, but he also did get the runs at a crucial time to set up the game.

Madhevere (6/10) - Contributed in both innings, took a couple wickets, and fielded very well. Overall a solid all-round performance. Also kept his cool and saw the side home during a pretty epic collapse.

Curran (5/10) - Did well enough to justify his place in the side.

Nyauchi (5/10) - Took some good wickets, leaked some bad runs, but did about what you can expect from him.

Ervine (4/10) - Didnt' bat well, but lead the team to a win, so gets some points for that.

Mayavo (3.5/10) - Poor behind the stumps, decent with the bat in the first innings. Not much else to say that hasn't already been said.

Ngarava (3/5) - Wasn't amongst the wickets, and while he was economical in the first innings, was the opposite in the 2nd. The second seamer is expected to perform more.

Welch (3/5) - Young player, will probably get another chance on what should be a flatter wicket in Chittagong in the 2nd game.

[Andy31]

Good ratings and agree with most of it.

What is getting more pleasing is we are starting to win more games or be more competitive with out the big 3.

I think we need to start working on our bowling depth but lets see how these A games go.

[secretzimbo]

I can guarantee that Craig is at least 6-2.

Edit: google is saying Craig is 6-1.

That went well.

[ZIMDOGGY]

I’m 6’3 and I guarantee I am taller than Craig and BT by some margin, it’s not right

They might be closer to 6-2, but surely no shorter than that. I also saw Craig at the toss standing next to Shanto, who is 5-10, and Craig is definitely 6-2 or thereabouts. I'm less sure of BT, but BT and Craig are around the same height.

google says 6ft, that seems right to me.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Craig is more or less exactly 6 foot.

The bangla captain guy is several inches shorter than that.

On the subject of height, Tsiga is at least 6ft 3in and I doubt will be able to walk properly by the time he retires. Everyone clamouring for him to be in the team, and for sure he might be a better bat than Mayavo. But Mayavo is a really good keeper. Had a nightmare here, but it's out of character. He's usually excellent behind the stumps, better than Tsiga, who is awkward especially when standing up to the stumps.

If that is true then the clear evidence is that Mayavo buckles under the pressure.

3 dropped catches, which people here said was regulation (I didnt see) and a second innings duck, suggests he cant handle the pressure of test cricket.

To be frank, it seems to be an issue affecting the African guys. We have all lost count of how many look brilliant domestically but cannot step up. Maruma, Marumani, and many others.

Cricket is all mental. Ben Curran to me looks dogshit in terms of skill to me but he is succeeding as he is coping well with the pressure.

[Kriterion_BD]

google says 6ft, that seems right to me.

Google is incorrect if thats the case. I know for a fact Shanto is 5-10, and because Craig was aprox 4 inches taller, that makes him 6-2.

Only way you're right is if Craig is wearing those platform boots to add inches to his height all this time.

[secretzimbo]

For the 8th time, Craig is 6ft.

[Pat_Bee]

Somebody reckoned he was as tall as Blessing once, and provided the photographic evidence

[Pat_Bee]

If that is true then the clear evidence is that Mayavo buckles under the pressure.

3 dropped catches, which people here said was regulation (I didnt see) and a second innings duck, suggests he cant handle the pressure of test cricket.

That won’t be biased in any way then.