Zimbabwe Stats from Bangladesh series

[zimfan1]

Batting (qualification 50 runs)

CK Coventry - 296 runs at 74.00
BRM Taylor - 193 runs at 38.60
E Chigumbura - 139 runs at 34.75
H Masakadza - 161 runs at 32.20
MA Vermeulen - 124 runs at 31.00
S Matsikenyeri - 108 runs at 27.00
SC Williams - 97 runs at 24.25
RW Price - 62 runs at 20.66

Bowling

RW Price - 8 wickets at 25.12 econ 4.46
P Utseya - 3 wickets at 71.66 econ 5.24
AG Cremer - 1 wicket at 82.00 econ 5.46
E Chigumbura - 7 wickets at 33.42 econ 5.57
T Mupariwa - 3 wickets at 32.33 econ 6.00
H Masakadza - 3 wickets at 44.00 econ 7.76
CJ Chibhabha - 2 wickets at 50.50 econ 8.78

[zimfan1]

I think these statistics clearly show that its the bowling that let us down as Ray Price was the only one to go under 5 an over. Utseya did not take wickets are keep the run rate down which puts his place in the side clearly in doubt and i for one would love to see Cremer get a run in the side. We despratly need to find a couple of pace bowlers as we do not look like taking wickets up front which is what we need to give our spinners the chance to squeeze the life out of the opposition.

The batting was good in places and poor in others. Coventry was the outstanding performer with runs in nearly every match. Taylor showed good consistancy in the middle order working the ball around. Vermulen, Williams and Masakadza all chipped in with runs but need to show consistancy in order the estiblish themselves in the batting line up. Chigumbura played part coming in at 7 which is where i think he is best suited in order to not over burden his repsonsibilty and allow the top order batsman to knock the ball around taking the singles whilst knowing that Chigumbura who can raise the rate in the last 10 overs to come.

[Detective RDS]

Some criticism about the performance of Zimbabwe in the home series against Bangladesh by sundaynews.

Link: http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 4280&cat=5

Zim disappoint against Bangladesh

By Mehluli Sibanda

ZIMBABWE disappointed when they lost the five One-Day International cricket series against Bangladesh 4-1 and with it went away the chance to improve on their standing in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings.


They had been overtaken by Ireland before the series and the home series against Bangladesh provided a window of re-entering the top 10, but, alas, they chose to disappoint the home fans.

It was a series Zimbabwe could have won as shown by the improvement they made in each match.

Zimbabwe started the series on a poor note, losing by eight wickets after scoring just 207 runs with a high score of 92 runs coming from returnee Mark Vermeulen who was making his first appearance for Zimbabwe since 2004.

In the first match, Zimbabwe made some shocking selections, picking Chamunorwa Chibhabha as an opening batsman and opening bowler. It was too much to ask for from Chibhabha and he failed to deliver with both bat and ball. Three spinners were also picked in the team and that failed to yield any positive results.

In the second match, the bowlers again let Zimbabwe down as they let Bangladesh score more than 300 runs. Zimbabwe did improve on their batting in that match, Sean Williams top scoring with 75 runs, Charles Coventry made 61 runs while Elton Chigumbura got into attacking mode with 30 runs from just 20 deliveries but the trio’s contribution was not enough as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 271 to lose the match by 49 runs.

Going into the third match, a win for Bangladesh would have handed them the series with two matches to spare. Zimbabwe however refused to surrender when a maiden ODI century from Hamilton Masakadza inspired them to a 69 run victory. Masakadza scored 102 runs and got support from Brendan Taylor who made 94 runs, Chigumbura’s unbeaten 61 runs and a nine ball 23 from Stuart Matsikenyeri took Zimbabwe to 323 runs.

Bulawayo born medium pace bowler, Tawanda Mupariwa, playing in his first ODI at Queens took a wicket with his first delivery to dismiss Tamim Iqbal for a first ball duck. Bangladesh never recovered from that poor start and Zimbabwe romped to victory.

The fourth match was a match Zimbabwe should have not lost and it is shocking how they lost it. Coventry scored an unbeaten 194 runs to equal the world record set by former Pakistan batsman Saeed Anwar who scored 194 runs against India in 1997.

Propelled by Coventry’s heroics, Zimbabwe posted 312 runs, which looked like a defendable total.

It was never going to be, as Zimbabwe’s bowlers were a big let down with Iqbal gate crashing Coventry’s party when he scored 154 runs to lead Bangladesh to a four wicket win to seal the series.

With the series gone to the Tigers, Zimbabwe had pride to play for in the last match but they decided to repeat the way they played in the first match. The only difference was that the bowlers put up a better act.

The toss won, Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya chose to bat first. Zimbabwe crumbled like a deck of cards as Mahmud Dolar, playing his first match in the series ripped through the order with ease. Even Coventry could not stand the heat as he fell for a seven ball duck.
It took Taylor, who came in at number seven to take Zimbabwe past the 200 run mark. Taylor top scored with 61 runs while veteran Raymond Price was second best with 46 runs as Zimbabwe totaled 209 runs.

With such a low score to chase, Bangladesh eased to victory with 13 deliveries to spare. The Zimbabwe bowlers did well this time around and had the batsmen played their part, Zimbabwe could have emerged victorious.

Coventry was Zimbabwe’s highest run scorer with 296 runs at an average of 74.00 that was second to Iqbal for the whole series, Taylor finished second with 193 at 38.60. Masakadza was the third highest scorer with 161 runs scored at 32.30 while all-rounder Elton Chigumbura scored 139 runs at an average of 34.75.

Left arm spinner Price was the highest wicket taker for Zimbabwe and in the whole series with eight wickets while Chigumbura picked up seven wickets.

Vusumuzi Sibanda, an experienced batsman who has played international cricket for Zimbabwe since 2003 was one of the most disappointing players during the series with just two runs in two innings. Other players who failed to justify their selection were Chibhabha who scored 15 runs in two innings and Malcolm Waller who amassed 15 runs in three innings.

Zimbabwe’s loss in the series casts a dark shadow on the future of captain Prosper Utseya and coach Walter Chawaguta. Both Utseya and Chawaguta have their tenures expiring at the end of this month and it will not come as surprise if they are removed from their posts.

The decision by the selectors to weaken the bowling attack while strengthen the batting proved costly. A bowler like Christopher Mpofu who has done duty for the country over the years was demoted to Zimbabwe A and his experience was clearly missed against Bangladesh.

Utseya took over the captaincy from Terrence Duffin three years ago and his leadership qualities are coming into question.

He is no longer the off spinner who at some stage even had a better economy rate than Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan in ODIs and is now a liability to the team with his place no longer guaranteed.

Chawaguta, a successful coach with the national Under-19 team is having his tactics at senior level being questioned and doubts are high that he is the best man to revive the national team.

His post was advertised when Zimbabwe lost 5-0 at home to Sri Lanka at the end of last year, Zimbabwe Cricket however decided to give him another chance.

This time around he might find his contract simple not being renewed, just like what happened to his predecessor Robin Brown.

Bulawayo cricket fans, having last watched international cricket when Zimbabwe took on West Indies in December 2007 came out in their numbers to cheer the boys, but were left disappointed with the results.