Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka - ODI Series

[maehara]

KM Dabengwa b Kulasekara 39
I sense Zim are about to blow this...

[CrimsonAvenger]

I sense Zim are about to blow this...

Well, that's what they have done

Looking back we should have won the series 3-2. And who knows, if we had decided to bat second, it could have been 4-1. But then, lets not get into ifs and buts. It was 0-5.

The only difference I can see from 0-5 and 3-2 is the absence of Taylor and Williams. Batting throughout the series was miserable.

I can't wait to see the best player poll on the forums now. Someone has performed 2 out of 2 times

Anyway, lets hope to do well on the tour of Bangladesh...

[jimbo]

I know that zimbabwe batsmen have performed badly in this series but I dont think there is many other players coming through the ranks who can step up to the tour of bangladesh. Those pitches will be spin friendly so dont think it will be a good idea to put rookies in place when we tour bangladesh

[Detective RDS]

Match Review

5th ODI between ZIMBABWE vs SRI LANKA

Played at Harare Sports Club on 30 November 2008 (50-over match)

SRI LANKA 152 (48.5 Over) (Kandamby 40,Mathews 31,Sangakkara 28)
(Rainsford 3/22,Mupariwa 2/17,Dabengwa 1/15,Price 1/28,Matsikenyeri 1/29)

ZIMBABWE 133 (44 Over) (Dabengwa 39,Utseya 31,Taibu 14)
(Murailitharan 5/29,Kulasekara 3/14,Fernando 2/33)

Result:Sri Lanka won by 19 runs.

Bowlling of Zimbabwe:

1.Brilliant bowling by Edward Rainsford giving 4 maidens in his first 7 overs and then took 2 wickets in the slog overs and his bowling figure was 8.5-3-22-3.He has really been a good bowler since he appeared in the international arena.
2.Tawanda Mupariwa is one of the best bowlers ever born in Zimbabwe.He was brilliant picking up 2 wickets(7-1-17-2).He is the fastest Zimbabwean to take 50 wickets beating Eddo Brandes which he completed in 28 matches.He took 10 wickets in this 5 match series and also bowled his best career figure 4/39.
3.Prosper Utseya(10-2-15-0),Raymond Price(7-0-28-1),Keith Dabengwa(4-0-15-1) all the spinners bowled well.Even Stuart Matsikenyeri was also amoung them(10-0-29-1) which was a good strategy by Zimbabwe.

Fielding of Zimbabwe:

Stuart Matsikenyeri took 2 catches.Tatenda Taibu took a catch and 2 Sri Lankan batsmen was run out by him which was brilliant and the sign of a good fielding side.Raymond Price really encouraged the young guys to do such fielding.Its good for a team prospective that the experienced guy come round for the performance of the team.

Weakness:

Elton Chigumbura wasn’t in his rhythm bowling too many wides and he was exceptional amoung the bowlers and his bowlling figure was 2-0-18-0.

Batting of Zimbabwe:

HAMILTON MASAKADZA >He is a good batsman and is the top scorer for Zimbabwe in this series especially his 77 in the 3rd ODI.He played a wrong aggressive shot against Fernando which was really not needed.He should have been stay in the wicket and stick around.

VUSIMUZI SIBANDA >In the early stage of his career,his batting average was around 11.But he improved his batting average and now its around 23.He was aggressive in the recent series and made his maiden ODI century 116 against West Indies last year.He played a front foot sweep shot against Muraili,but missed the line of the bowl completely and was out LBW.

JUSTICE CHIBHABHA >He has 7 ODI fifties under his belt.But he was out of touch in this series.He also followed Sibanda and was out LBW to Murailidharan.

STUART MATSIKENYERI >He is really out of form in this series.Batting average of (20.50) in 79 ODIs is not international standard.He played a back foot shot against Muraili,missed the bowl and was out LBW.

ELTON CHIGUMBURA >He has made just 16 runs in 5 matches.He should work both in his batting and bowlling(though picked up 7 wickets in 5 matches)and can become a good all rounder.I remember,he picked up a good amount of wickets in the World Twenty-20 World Cup in 2007 in Sou.But don’t know why he has lost his rhythm.He was bold out in a top class delivery of Murailitharan.

TATENDA TAIBU >He batted well throughout the series and is the 2nd top scorer for Zimbabwe in this series.He was out LBW in a good bowl of Fernando.His reverse sweep against Muraili and Mendis was really a good thing to watch out for.He has really worked hard for it in the nets.His running between the wicket is marvelous and I think,the worlds best!He is a class batsman of Zimbabwe.

KEITH DABENGWA >He was the top scorer for Zimbabwe in the last two ODIs (32,39).He scored best 39 in 91 bowls hitting a boundary and a six but couldn’t take Zim home.But his innings was appreciable.

PROSPER UTSEYA >He played a captains knock and scored 31 in 99 bowls but couldn’t take his team home.Although a good innings.

CONCLUSION:

Zimbabwe could have been won the series by 3-2.They missed 3 winning chance.Its better to say Zimbabwe has lost than Sri Lanka has won in the last 3 matches as the commentators said too.I don’t know why Sean William wasn’t picked for the last two ODIs.He should have been given chance to bat at no 3 spot as he is a class player.Zimbabwe should also try to have some of the players who has left Zimbabwe for different reasons.Although a good effort by Zimbabwe and hope they can get their former players back and gain some winning notes in the future series and have their lost glories back.