[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v NewZealand (3rd ODI)

[andybligz93]

Fancy being stuck in a meeting...what a knock from Waller..and Taylpr setting it all up and Taibu contribution essential and I see why Chigs would be a better bet than Pro just glad it came off. Wonder where this leaves hhm's theory which I supported..on having a more experienced heads whilst the youth matures in FC...the bowling screams for it...but with resolve from "green" players like Waller...for now Im pleasantly blown away...finally Taylor has sonething to smile about...I really think we can draw the test..

we can win the test FP , its just a matter of self belief

[zimfan1]

This win gives us a bit of daylight from Ireland


9. Bangladesh 63 Points
10. Zimbabwe 47 Points
11. Ireland 41 Points

Was i wrong or was a series between Ireland and Zimbabwe muted for Febuary?

[bayhaus]

Excellent win for Zim I had written them off honestly! Very good attitude in chasing the total especially Taylor, taibu and Waller Elton chipped in as well. Good result hope we carry that form to the tests.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Fancy being stuck in a meeting...what a knock from Waller..and Taylpr setting it all up and Taibu contribution essential and I see why Chigs would be a better bet than Pro just glad it came off. Wonder where this leaves hhm's theory which I supported..on having a more experienced heads whilst the youth matures in FC...the bowling screams for it...but with resolve from "green" players like Waller...for now Im pleasantly blown away...finally Taylor has sonething to smile about...I really think we can draw the test..

we can win the test FP , its just a matter of self belief

The concern is the potency of the bowling attack I think. It's been a problem all tour (bar the odd patch here and there); Zimbabwe has not been able to take wickets and NZ have been able to form huge partnerships. So the worry is NZ on the batting paradise that is Queens Sports Club racking up 3/600 or something like that.

Zimbabwe's best bet is probably to bat first and try and work up a score of around 500 to secure at worst a draw. It would take some doing; but if Taylor continues in his fine form there's no telling how many runs he could accumulate - after all he did score 310 in the ODI series before being dismissed. Mawoyo would come in on the back of an unbeaten 160 odd; Taibu is due for some runs and if Waller makes the cut he's got form on his side too in both FC and ODI matches. The strength is definitely in the batting. I'm under no illusions about how difficult that will be, especially against an attack featuring Vettori, but over 400 was scored against Pakistan on the same ground just one month ago.

[Kriterion_BD]

Congrats Zim fans!

[FlowerPower]

Fancy being stuck in a meeting...what a knock from Waller..and Taylpr setting it all up and Taibu contribution essential and I see why Chigs would be a better bet than Pro just glad it came off. Wonder where this leaves hhm's theory which I supported..on having a more experienced heads whilst the youth matures in FC...the bowling screams for it...but with resolve from "green" players like Waller...for now Im pleasantly blown away...finally Taylor has sonething to smile about...I really think we can draw the test..

we can win the test FP , its just a matter of self belief

I know I sound like a wet blanket...but...we kind of need to take 20 wickets...and when was the last we took more than 6 in any game T20, ODI or Test...but hey I hope we take them, just not so confident we will, hence I talk up a draw, if only Taylor was a bowler and with his attitude then I'd be as confident of winning as you are...can't he clone himself or something?

[Tom91]

Gutted i couldn't watch this match today missed a thriller of a game. Going to watch the highlights though. Well done to the lads today

[eugene]

When I left for work this morning I figured Zimbabwe might make it to 260 or so at best. What a fantastic innings from Malcolm Waller. He has shown great potential before today but finally he put it all together in one innings! Our bowling and fielding is still a big concern but at least the confidence and mentality of the players will be improved after this successful chase. How many times have we seen the team come agonisingly close to winning and then blow it at the end? Today was a big step in the right direction.

[hhm]

Devastated. Missed our entire innings due to work commitments! Didn't even have the chance to follow it on Cricinfo! Very proud of the boys. Unbelievable win. If only someone could tell me how we did it. You've explained why we always fall short of acheiving that before Zimdoggy, perhaps now you can also explain why we finally managed it. Kindly enlighten me.

The brilliant Taylor as always led from the front (be it in victory or defeat), when Taibu clicks things always happen for us - that's been proven countless times, but it looks to me that Waller smoked something during the innings break and that did the trick. I'll have to watch the highlights, but whatever the case might be, complacency after a series win plus poor bowling&fielding couldn't have tilted the scales in our favour that much! Our boys achieved that through sheer guts and determination. They batted beautifully and the entire cricket world needs to give Zim respect!

Unfortunately Flower Power, I will continue to stand by my theory to use our suitable mature players available to us(despite your naughty inclusion of Ebrahim&Mahwire). Sure T20s and ODI are something else and as is most often the trend in most Full members (including this NZ side), your fringe players are tried out in that format first and that's where the likes of Jarvis, Meth, Mutizwa and Waller can be tried out from time to time. The bigger platform however, is reserved for the big boys! Trust me when you see how Eng destroyed a mighty Indian lineup in the Tests, and how Aus spanked SL (with Sanga&Mahela) then you begin to appreciate the gap between us and the rest. You still remember what Hayden did to us, now think what Trott&Cook plus their bowlers would do to us, as well as Sanga&Mahela plus their sipinners in the subcontinent. We'd lose by an innings without even getting close to the 800runs they posted. These boys aren't ready to face a full strength lineup from the top 4/5 teams! It will be an embarrassment!!!

I haven't side tracked the wager Conant. I prefer for both of us to agree that it would be a stupid move on the part of the coaches and selectors to use Mushangwe in the Test period! If they do then someone needs to be fired! That's my opinion.

Good Doctor, for all my love and respect for my favorite Zim player Andy, the fact is that he simply isn't up there with the best of the best. He was an above average player who had a purple patch that almost turned him into a great before it ended abruptly. Thankfully he did enough during that period to get the average that made him look the part. Shane Warne has him higher than the likes of Inzy, Anwar, Azharuddin, Yousuf and even Steven Waugh but we know he was just being kind.

Anyway, I may have missed out but it's never too late! I'm may not be in the City of Kings, but I'll have a few for the boys.

[eugene]

hhm, who are the big boys of Zimbabwean cricket that you think are being left out for inexperienced younger players? I can't think of any Zimbabwean player who is currently on the sidelines who is a titan of world cricket.