[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v South Africa: Only Test

[zimfan1]

Third catch of the innings for Vusi (could of been 4 though)

[foreignfield]

Well deserved wicket for Williams.

Restricting SA to below 350 absolutely is possible now.

In hindsight, Taylor might have wanted to open with Nyumbu from one end this morning. He was dangerous last night with the newish ball.

[sloandog]

To be honest the more it starts to spin the more I worry, because we will have to face this against arguably better spinners in Duminy and Piedt. Du Plessis also bowls some more than handy Leg spin! It wouldn't surprise me though if our lads come out in a positive mind set to them, much like the Aussies did to Swann in the ashes!

[foreignfield]

It wouldn't surprise me though if our lads come out in a positive mind set to them, much like the Aussies did to Swann in the ashes!

Agreed. Taylor and Williams in particular don't like to get bogged down against the spinners.

And don't forget Dean Elgar's left-armers.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Good to see Williams get a Test match wicket

To be honest the more it starts to spin the more I worry, because we will have to face this against arguably better spinners in Duminy and Piedt. Du Plessis also bowls some more than handy Leg spin! It wouldn't surprise me though if our lads come out in a positive mind set to them, much like the Aussies did to Swann in the ashes!

Yeah, Piedt is a worry because he can really rip it. If there are any redeeming factors, he seems to be a traditional offspinner and not a Mendis/Ajmal type mystery spinner - but Zimbabwe struggle against any type of spin really.

Now is the type to really attack, especially Philander. Get guys around the bat, attack that off stump. If we can keep pressure on now it won't allow the tail to settle and maybe a sub-100 lead is still on the cards.

Nyumbu has been pretty impressive. I'm not convinced that Utseya couldn't have done the same thing, but he's not playing so we can only judge Nyumbu - and he's acquitted himself well so far. He's a sneaky chance for a 5-fer here.

[foreignfield]

Chatara has been impressive in the field today, saved a number of runs diving at full stretch. Is he our own Jimmy Anderson?

[brmtaylor.com admin]

It wouldn't surprise me though if our lads come out in a positive mind set to them, much like the Aussies did to Swann in the ashes!

Agreed. Taylor and Williams in particular don't like to get bogged down against the spinners.

And don't forget Dean Elgar's left-armers.

Yeah, Taylor's century against a NZ side with Vettori and Patel springs to mind. I think he took a particular liking to Patel.

Chatara has been impressive in the field today, saved a number of runs diving at full stretch. Is he our own Jimmy Anderson?

Yeah, besides two admittedly tough chances the fielding has been very good.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Missing a lot of action today. Should be able to watch the post tea session hopefully. How adjacent was that shout for lbw from Panya?

[foreignfield]

BT's bowling changes have become a bit formulaic, don't you think? I would dearly have liked to see Nyumbu bowl in tandem with Chatara or Tinashe shutting up one end.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Missing a lot of action today. Should be able to watch the post tea session hopefully. How adjacent was that shout for lbw from Panya?

Live I thought it was a good shout. Commentators seemed to think there was an edge, I'm not convinced. After some of the decisions we got I was hoping maybe the umpires would give us a marginal call or two.

The run out was closer. The keeper shied nonchalantly at the stumps, and if it had hit Philander was short.

This partnership is meandering along a bit. Happy for Panyangara and Chatara to keep doing what they're doing, but the next bowling change needs to be inspired I think. Maybe Masakadza's not the answer, he may not be able to offer anything Panygara and Chatara aren't currently. Maybe Taylor could bowl himself? See if Philander or Duminy are willing to attack his offspin instead of that of the specialist spinners.

Has anyone seen Vermeulen in the field?