[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v South Africa: Only Test

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Who is Tiripano protecting. Vermeulen or Sibanda?
I just found it odd Sibanda looked for that quick single early in the over. Well from a team perspective, obviously not from Sibanda's perspective

[sloandog]

This is painful! If Piedt bowls like this tomorrow I would seriously take the attack to him! I wouldn't want him to settle into a rhythm and bowl like he has done tonight, because quite frankly, with the amount of turn he's getting, if we prod and try ans block him out we will get bowled out because those deliveries will get a lot of good batters out let alone us Zimbabweans!

[foreignfield]

We are in a better position than I expected this morning. A great fight all around.

[Jemisi]

both teams can be happy with that session.

SA get into their work. We knocked them over for under 400 for only the 2nd time ever (and with a much less credentialled attack) Plus only one down from a tough session of 13 overs.

[zimfan1]

We are in a better position than I expected this morning. A great fight all around.

Agreed anything better than an innings defeat is a victory as far as im concerned, if we could take it to day 5 that would be amazing, just need to try and bat through tomorrow.

[AussieZimFan]

I'll take 1/28 given that Hammy's delivery was a corker. Surviving tonight will hopefully give Sibanda some much needed confidence tomorrow. If they can see off the first Steyn/Philander or Steyn/Morkel spell in the morning without losing a wicket or only losing Tiripano which would put the ball at 20 overs old, it should set the platform for the rest of the batsmen to really settle in and wipe off the deficit.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Well, it was such a horror personally to see Hammy get out like that. Did so much hard work in both digs but to get out to unplayable deliveries is frustrating for the fan in me. Is there no justice at all

On the plus side though, he has never been so assured of his own batting in the last couple of years as he has been in this match. But a long batting display tomorrow also heavily depended on him being around. But hopefully Vusi and co. can turn it around and hope we are still batting by stumps tomorrow.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Well unfortunately we couldn't survive that little burst before stumps completely unscathed, but on the plus side at least Masakadza was able to provide a little contribution.

How crucial is the first session tomorrow?! It goes without saying that Sibanda needs to make this innings count and if we are to make a fist of this game he needs to still be batting tomorrow afternoon.

If Tiripano can hang around for as long as he did in the first innings and just provide support for Sibanda then he has done his job.

2/80 at lunch, with Vermeulen and Sibanda still batting and I'd be really pleased. That then sets a platform to hopefully bat for the rest of the day.

Nyumbu comes across as a really nice guy, having just watched that interview. His 5-fer has to be the highlight of the day

[Jemisi]

Yep 2/80 at lunch with just the loss of Donald would be an amazing platform

[eugene]

Double century for Vermeulen tomorrow. You heard it here first.