[Match Thread] South Africa V Zimbabwe – 1st ODI

[Detective RDS]

To be fair, Dr Situ I'm also not satisfied with the team.

I would prefer two changes.

Jarvis in for Chibhabha
Coventry in for Cremer

[Detective RDS]

Link: http://www.cricinfo.com/rsavzim2009/con ... 33411.html

South Africa v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Benoni

Utseya and Taibu back as Zimbabwe field

Cricinfo staff

November 8, 2009

Toss Zimbabwe opted to field v South Africa

Zimbabwe, less than three days after a disappointing tour of Bangladesh, began their brief visit to South Africa by opting to field in Benoni. A fit-again Prosper Utseya, who missed four of five ODIs in Bangladesh, made his decision after inspecting a solid track that appeared to have a relative amount of moisture encouraging to the seamers.

Zimbabwe's squad was also boosted by the return of Tatenda Taibu, who was injured in Bangladesh. Malcolm Waller and Forster Mutizwa made way for the two returning seniors.

This match marks the debut of the talented South African allrounder Ryan McLaren, who was originally scheduled to make his debut last year in the ODI series against Kenya and Bangladesh but had to withdraw because of his commitments to England county Kent. Having made himself available for South Africa from October 1, McLaren, 26, was included in the squad and now has a chance to impress ahead of the England series.

South Africa have had a good year in ODIs with series wins over Australia both home and away, but had a disappointing Champions Trophy where they were knocked out in the league phase. Their coach, Mickey Arthur, has already targetted this two-match series as a chance for the squad to play together and work on new combinations ahead of the much tougher contest against England.

South Africa and Zimbabwe last faced each other in an ODI more than two years ago, in August 2007

South Africa: 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Mark Boucher (wk), 5 Alvrio Petersen, 6 Albie Morkel, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Johan Botha, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Charl Langeveldt.

Zimbabwe: 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Mark Vermeulen, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 5 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 6 Chamu Chibhabha, 7 Prosper Utseya, 8 Elton Chugumbura, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Ray Price, 11 Chris Mpofu.

[andy24]

alrite start, just need that early wicket

[andy24]

any links

[Conant]

Welcome Andy, Conant ! Your valuable thoughts?

Morning everybody. The ground in Benoni is just 800meters away. So I’m already in as I speak ... uhm, write. Dr Situ, you flatter me.
I think Chibhabha’s line is right but we need some explosiveness. And this thing of playing three spinners who can’t bat is just killing me, not to mention the team.
I hope Chibhabha opens the batting.

[Detective RDS]

Sou 60/0 (11.0 over)

Amla 28*
Smith 30*

South Africa has rested a number of players which include Kallis, Duminy, VD Merwe. Parnell is out for injury, we know that.

Zimbabwe needs to tighten things up in a rush.

SA does have a strong bowling lineup:

1. Steyn
2. Tsotsobe
3. Langeveldt
4. Botha
5. McLaren
6. Morkel

I don't think Morkel will bowl much as it was hinted that the bowling pressaure will be taken off from him to let him concentrate on his batting and bat him at higher order.

I think, Zim needs to employ the spinners now to see what the impact they can provide. Especially the overs of Raymond Price will be vital.

[andy24]

price the legend gets the breakthrough

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Priceless Wkt

[Detective RDS]

I think, Zim needs to employ the spinners now to see what the impact they can provide. Especially the overs of Raymond Price will be vital.

Well done, LEGEND Price !

13.3 to Smith, Smith goes for the big slog-sweep but hits it too flat right down the throaght of the fielder down at deep square leg. The introduction of spin then was effective in getting the first wicket. The South African skipper has to go and that would be very dissapointing for him. 67/1

[Maraicha]

108/1 I hope we win this time