[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v South Africa: Only Test

[Jemisi]

very nearly 5

[Jemisi]

Surely it is Richmond who has lost 10kg? He is razor thin

[Jemisi]

Good hard fighting. Can't believe we are still in the game after two days.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Conceded a few more runs in the end than I would have liked to see. Given the way Panyangara and Chatara were bowling earlier, I reckon we could have restricted them to 180. But nonetheless, 4/201 isn't bad and we go into day 3 holding a slim lead still which is pretty impressive.

Unfortunately, de Kock seems to be treating the Titans of Test Cricket as if they are a minnow - throwing the bat at anything and everything. du Plessis is showing some more respect to the bowling. I hope that we can get de Kock very early tomorrow, and then have Chatara and Panyangara bowl long spells in the hope (it's a slim hope) that we can still be leading at lunch tomorrow.

The slower we can make them bat, the more likely a draw becomes.

[Jemisi]

well the odds of getting to day 5 are looking better at any rate

[Kriterion_BD]

This is a superb showing by ZIM!

a draw is now a distinct possibility. Let's do some math:

SA have to budget for at least 500 runs, and at 201-4 they likely won't get there. Assuming they get 350 at 2.7 an over ( factor some acceleration) that is 130 overs. That takes us to the middle of day 3. Half the test remains. ZIM would then have to bat big, trailing by 100. If they bat until the end of day 4, ~140 overs, at 2.7 an over that is a total of 378, a lead of around 280. SA would fancy chasing that down.

Thus, to draw ZIM will actually want SA to go slow and use up time and then bat big in the 3rd innings. If you score quicker, ZIM may even get into a position of trying to bowl SA out and win!

[Kriterion_BD]

The slower we can make them bat, the more likely a draw becomes.

YES!

They're only going at 2.39 an over which is unheard of in this era. Zim have already achieved that target. If you can keep their overall runrate under 2.7 for the entire innings, a draw will be that much closer.

[eugene]

The problem is that Zimbabwe rarely scores big in the second innings. We are very much a first innings team.

[Kriterion_BD]

The problem is that Zimbabwe rarely scores big in the second innings. We are very much a first innings team.

Isn't everybody?

Well that's how matches are drawn so heres hoping. Regardless, ZIM have so far not done any harm to their reputation. In fact its been enhanced. For teams like BD and ZIM (and even WI) its not about wins or losses but the manner ie the margin that counts.

[eugene]

The problem is that Zimbabwe rarely scores big in the second innings. We are very much a first innings team.

Isn't everybody?

Well that's how matches are drawn so heres hoping.

Fair point. I just remember a few too many second innings collapses I guess.