Match Thread - 2nd ODI - Zimbabwe vs West Indies

[maehara]

Brent.,
JE Taylor c Chigumbura b Brent 3

[andy]

they did well in the middle of the game to tire them down and slow the run rate but no one could bowl well at the death

[maehara]

WI finish on 286/9, so Zim need 287 to win. That's a challenge, but not entirely impossible...

[zimdan]

287 is gettabke, just need 2-3 guys to get 50+.

They did it yesterday so im banking on them to get somehwere close again.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Chris Gayle has a hamstring injury. I assume this is series ending.

This leaves WI without a captain, and without a bowler. This has to work to Zimbabwe's advantage batting second. It's a tough score, but not impossible. Sibanda and Taylor need to get us off to a good start - usually that works by Sibanda playing the attacking role and Taylor pushing for the singles.

Hopefully Taibu comes good in this innings and puts in a big score, like that century he made against South Africa chasing 320 or so (Zim made 295 (?) that innings).

We could have a game on our hands here, but we need to keep wickets in hand in the first 20 overs, just as the Windies did.

[maehara]

We could have a game on our hands here, but we need to keep wickets in hand in the first 20 overs, just as the Windies did.

That's the bit that always worries me - you never know if the batsmen are going to fire or not. Cue some well-chewed nails while reading the commentary and expecting to see a wicket fall every few balls...

But they have been becoming more consistent lately - the collapses do still happen, but they're not as often. Here's hoping today isn't one of them...

[andy]

i would put chimgumbura up the order to get some runs early and quickely cause is zimbabwe biggest hitter

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I think regardless of the score, Tatenda Taibu should enter at number 3. He is considered to be Zimbabwe's only world class batsman (I dispute that... Masakadza? Taylor?) and the WI bowlers will be well aware of that.

Andy, I agree with you. I think Chigumbura at number 4 might not be such a bad idea today, particularly if we need to up the run rate a bit.

[Maraicha]

Very much unlike Sibanda not to attck early on. The Windies bowlers must be doing some good work. Its just a matter of time though before he explodes.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

They must be trying to play themselves in, keep wickets in hand. He only just got off the mark.

5.2 Powell to Sibanda, FOUR, good shot, picks up the length well and pulls well in the air behind square leg to the fence.