[Match Thread] 1st T20I (South Africa v Zimbabwe)

[Nilesh23]

Thank you man for your answers. I personally feel Blignaught Sean and Doug can be a big hit and can be brought for IPL, if money is their only concern. So I'll keep fingers crossed.
Even otherwise it is better to play international cricket than playing county.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Video highlights are up on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLkyHlTUVhc

Despite the poor bowling performance, there is a lot to be happy about with the batting display.

[sloandog]

I was very very impressed with Chibahbas stroke play. Some of this shots of JP Duminy were fantastic
I think from the bowling side of things, Chris Mpofu was out best bowler. He may have got some stick, but he swung the ball and bowled with some pace. He clocked up to 140Kph (87Mph).
I thought Rainsford had some pace ?? I mean I've not seen him bowl now for a few years, but of what i can remember he really ran in hard and bowled with some heat. Plus, it looks as if his action has changed. He's not jumping and his front leg was collapsing a frightening amount.
Ian Nicholson should play in the next match me thinks

[sloandog]

And one final little pointer, how well did Charles Coventry and Keith Dabengwa bat at the end ?? They were superb. I loved Coventrys no nonsense approach at the end, smoking Theron over his head for a big six, and then creaming him through the covers for a superb four.
Dabengwa was just as good. That six was absolutely massive, well done boys. I thought we did well there. It just showed how weak our bowling can be, and without Ray Price and possibly even Greg Lamb, we lack that control in the middle of the innings

[shumbat]

We were butchered at the end but Mpofu was our best bowler, our coaches should convince Ireland to open the bowling with Mpofu. Chibhabha and Chigs could come in or maybe the spinners depending on the opposition. The bowling coaches have their work cut out. Our batting did very well though even with a slow start, from Masi to the end with Chappie. Chappie has his critics for getting out to often but if he does'nt he makes a big difference. The only thing with him is that esp if he is in SA, he will be looking to hit the ball back to the Zim border. Can't wait for the 2nd match maybe our bowlers will do better.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I think from the bowling side of things, Chris Mpofu was out best bowler. He may have got some stick, but he swung the ball and bowled with some pace. He clocked up to 140Kph (87Mph).

Mpofu's speeds were:

Code: Select all

Over 1: 136/133/138/133/132/129
Over 2: 128/127/124/123/133/129/132
Over 3: 129/131/124/119/118/130
Over 4: 129/128/132/118/130/118

Avg: 128, High: 138, Low: 118

The bowling attack desperately needs someone who can consistently bowl at around 140. I agree Nicolson should come in for the next match. Hard to justify keeping Rainsford for the next T20 when he went for 14 an over and didn't seem to have any rhythm at all; even though Cremer and Utseya were hammered as well at least they looked threatening at times.

[sloandog]

The bowling attack desperately needs someone who can consistently bowl at around 140. I agree Nicolson should come in for the next match. Hard to justify keeping Rainsford for the next T20 when he went for 14 an over and didn't seem to have any rhythm at all; even though Cremer and Utseya were hammered as well at least they looked threatening at times.

And the most frustrating thing about about it is that we actually have guys that have the ability to do this. Guys like, Jarvis, Shingrai Mazakadza has some pace, Ian Nicholson, Gerald Aleseni, yet we go for guys who hover around the 80Mph bracket. I mean Chris Mpofu last night started off well. He really did swing the ball, but he just looks like he's bowling within himslef. I'm not just saying this, but i honestly think that Mpofu could be a 90Mph bowler if he bends his back. It seems that when he's getting some stick he goes into his shell, but when things are going good, he seems to bowl with more venom and pace.
Rainsford looked terrible last night. Where was this rhythm and pace we've been expecting....

[bayhaus]

seems that when he's getting some stick he goes into his shell,

Couldnt be more correct there I have noticed this with Mpofu on several occassiona and sometimes has a really sheepish grin after being hit a couple of times, something I dont expect to see from a fast bowler, saw the same grin on Tymcyn in West Indies when he faced roach and it said one thing to me - Out Of Depth.

[sloandog]

Out Of Depth.

Maruma was indeed out of his depth on that tour, without a shadow of a doubt. But Mpofu isn't. He's a promasing fast bowler, and is vital for our progress back into the test arena. But he has to shake off this attitude of "if i get hit, i'll drop the pace and go for line and length". Not a bad tactic if you're bowling at somebody like a weaker batter, but against a batter of Graeme Smiths class, not such a smart move. He needs to keep running in and hitting the deck, then he might find that the batters will show a bit more respect for him, something we saw with Morne Morkel in his first two overs. He hit the deck and bowled very well, and Mazakadza and Taylor couldn't do anything about it, but they played him well and respected the fact that he was bowling well. Learn Chris, it's a tough arena international cricket !