[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v New Zealand: 2nd Test

[watermelon]

this was a good effort from Craig, but the real star for mime was Tino Mawoyo, who did the same thing at the top of the innings against lethal bowling.

Craig just capitalised on Tino and Chamus hard work.

[jaybro]

Well done Craig Ervine test century !!!!

Special mention for PJ Moor and Chamu 2 guys I've advocated for on the forum so I'm very happy to see them both post half centuries .....

The plan seems to be working for a draw so far hopefully we don't collapse now after all this hard work .....

[watermelon]

if we can limp to lunch and surpass the 383 we are in good stead.

[Jemisi]

I think realistically for a draw Ervine and Cremer still need to be together at lunch. Or at the very least Ervine and whoever comes in next, because NZ will flay us when they bat and we won't chase 300 in the fourth innings, nor will we be likely to survive 90 overs on the 5th day. We need to be still batting by tea to be safe.

[CrimsonAvenger]

I think realistically for a draw Ervine and Cremer still need to be together at lunch. Or at the very least Ervine and whoever comes in next, because NZ will flay us when they bat and we won't chase 300 in the fourth innings, nor will we be likely to survive 90 overs on the 5th day. We need to be still batting by tea to be safe.

That's the truth. We are no way any close to a miraculous draw because of two good time consuming and run scoring partnerships. We still have 2 full days left, and we are perfectly capable of folding up in 35 overs in the second dig. Realistically, we still need to bat beyond tea and get close to 450, and even then, they can hit back hard with their second dig, declare half an hour before lunch tomorrow and nail us. We also need to bat equally well in the second dig. The job is not even half done.

[Kriterion_BD]

I think realistically for a draw Ervine and Cremer still need to be together at lunch. Or at the very least Ervine and whoever comes in next, because NZ will flay us when they bat and we won't chase 300 in the fourth innings, nor will we be likely to survive 90 overs on the 5th day. We need to be still batting by tea to be safe.

That's the truth. We are no way any close to a miraculous draw because of two good time consuming and run scoring partnerships. We still have 2 full days left, and we are perfectly capable of folding up in 35 overs in the second dig. Realistically, we still need to bat beyond tea and get close to 450, and even then, they can hit back hard with their second dig, declare half an hour before lunch tomorrow and nail us. We also need to bat equally well in the second dig. The job is not even half done.

In my expert opinion, its 50-50 for a draw right now. Normally, in this situation it would be 75-25 favoring a draw, but factoring in ZIM's ability to collapse (even in this innings there was a mini collapse from 65-0 to 149-5). But 50% is half done, I'd say.

There's only 77 runs to avoid the f/o now, so ZIM can afford to go back to blocking shit. See you can't block from the first ball, because everyone was jumping when Tino and Chibs crawled to 65-0...but a couple hours later that was 140 odd for 5 wickets down needing another 240 just to avoid a follow on! Its OK to block on a minefield, but on a belter like this where the opposition racks up nearly 600 for 4 at about 4 an over, you have to score at a minimum of 3 an over or else the pressure builds.

There is still scoreboard pressure in Test cricket.

In T20s you can't afford even a dot ball...in Tests you can play out a dot session, but not two. 450 overs is a LONG time, but its not infinite.

ZIM are in a great position right now. I am still rooting for NZ, but if ZIM keeps going then on Day 5 my loyalties will switch just like that Test win vs PAK back in 2013.

[ZIMDOGGY]

In my opinion, its whether they can get to the follow on score or not.

NOT because it avoids the follow on, NZ wont take it anyway unless the collapse happens in 4 overs.

Its moreso, that to get the 75 runs or so,Zim will chew up at least another two hours.

If they are still batting after lunch they will probably deadbat and will just need to survive a day. I think Zims batsman are capable of this. We bat deep, and deadbatting is something we CAN do.

[ZIMDOGGY]

A good plot tweist would be if NZ set a total of under 300, entice zim to take a stab at the win.

[eugene]

A good plot tweist would be if NZ set a total of under 300, entice zim to take a stab at the win.

I doubt NZ will do that as a draw seals the series victory for them anyway.

[AngusBeef]

I have high hopes for Cremer this Innings. He was looking rock solid in the second innings of last game until that unlucky LBW call. He is averaging 20 with the bat and surviving 59 balls on average since Zimbabwe returned to tests. Daniel Vettori was able to move his average from the high-teens midway through his career to finish right on an average of 30 so I think we might see something similar from Cremer and finish with an average in the low-to-mid twenties.