Series thread: Faithwear Inter-Provincial One Day 2008-09

[zimfan1]

the match between northans and easterns was abandoned without a ball being bowled


sounds like in this match the umpires thought it was fit to play but the players didnt


says that the discipline committee will decide what happens with that match (ie who's fault it was) i would put money on the game being given to the zanu pf side easterns

[zimfan1]

Chibhabha unbeaten century not enough for Centrals


CENTRALS captain and batsman Chamu Chibhabha clobbered an unbeaten 121 against Westerns as the weather played havoc in the second round of the 2009 Faithwear Series on Sunday but still lost by four wickets in a match reduced to 31 overs after another rain delay for the team batting second.

After losing two overs due to a delayed start, Centrals posted 227 in 48 overs batting first and when shortly after 10 overs, rains lashed the HSC forcing the covers to come on.When the match resumed after 42 minutes the target for Westerns, still with all wickets in hand, was reduced to 161 in 31 overs.

And that introduced frenetic if compelling cricket by both teams as victory for either team was barely granted as the match slowly pettered to a close with light again threatening to proffer a premature end to the proceedings.

Chibhabha’s stoic century lasting 215 minutes saw the batsman coming to the party when his knock was badly needed by his side following their loss on Saturday to Easterns in the first round of the tournament. Swashbuckling from start to finish, the skipper gave a hint of his potential with eight boundaries and three maximums as Westerns bowlers toiled the whole innings but could not remove him.

He lost four of his batsmen but his stance was too valiant to fall even to some in your face bowling from Chris Mpofu, Keith Dabengwa, Freedom Takarusenga and John Nyumbu. But Westerns who played some intelligent cricket tightened proceedings. Mark Vermuelen (32), Takarusenga (29), Mbekezeli Mabuza (27) and Thabo Mboyi (27 no) hit some superb shots to force the match into cliff hanging climax that the few fans who remained to the twilight enjoyed to bits.

Westerns got their victory with an over to spare as poor light threatened to leave the verdict into the hands of Duckworth Lewis students to deliver the result. But needing just two runs with an over to spare the Keith Dabengwa captained side just held on for a crucial victory as Centrals again lost a match they could have won.

Mboyi hit he winning runs to trigger celebrations from a side who are still to enjoy the service of one of the best pace bowlers in the game today – Tawanda Mupariwa, who is still nursing a knee injury and could return for the third round.

The result leaves this year’s series so open that it has become difficult for anyone to predict the final scores. Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Takarusenga both shone with the ball with three wickets apiece in a match Chibhabha thoroughly dominated with the bat but rewarded with another painful loss.

But on a day such exploits drew a blank for Centrals, HSC still witnessed some of the very exciting cricket on the domestic front with Westerns proving there is a lot in store for fans this season.

Meanwhile, the top billed clash between Northerns and Easterns at CFX Academy was abandoned with no ball bowled on Sunday after both teams, against the advice of the umpires, decided the wicket was not playable.

The verdict of that match lay with the disciplinary committee who will decide on that match. A lot was expected from the match pitting bitter rivals. Both teams won their first round of matches and it was expected that one of the two would lead the charge for this year’s Faithwear series.

[maehara]

If both sides refused to play, then it would be clear favouritism to award it to either side. At the very least no points should be awarded for it, but I'd hope both sides are docked points. The umpires should have the final word, after all...

[Detective RDS]

Good to see that Justice Chibhabha made a century 121*,gives an indication that he will be selected for the national side in the next series.

Mark Vermeulen,well made 32.He was more aggressive than the previous match.Scored 32 in 44 delivaries with a six.I agree with zimfan1 that he needs a big score.But good going!

Great that Blessing Mahwire is back for Centrals and bowled a good spell (5-1-10-0).He is an experienced bowler of Zimbabwe with test match experience under his belt.

Malcolm Waller again missed out.He really needs to score runs to retain his place in the national side.

Tafadzwa Kamangozi bowled very well (7-0-29-3).He took two wickets in the previous match also.He is an another player who has played ODIs for Zimbabwe.

19 years old Richmond Mutumbami is carrying on,that's a good sign.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Seems most people are against the decision to abandon the game? I'm actually with the players on this one - Chigumbura and Masakadza have seen many more pitches than Singo and Matibiri (or whoever was umpiring), they are much more qualified to know whether it will pose a danger to the players than the umpires are. If it was Tiffin and Barbour, or even Taps, then that's a different story.

If both captains agree to cancel the match, what is the problem? I'm not sure if the ICC rules have any allowances for when both teams "forfeit" but surely there must be an available loophole, like all batsmen retiring on 0 or something.

If common sense prevails though, they should just play the match at Harare Sports Club (or if the weather caused the problems to the pitch, then CFX Academy) the next time there is a rest day, which is March 5 I think.

[Detective RDS]

Westerns captain Keith Dabengwa I think will be in pressaure in the upcoming match.

His performance 15 runs in 2 matches at 7.50,best 9.And didnt take a wicket bowling
(14-2-53-0),economy 3.78 in 2 matches.

[maehara]

If both captains agree to cancel the match, what is the problem? I'm not sure if the ICC rules have any allowances for when both teams "forfeit" but surely there must be an available loophole, like all batsmen retiring on 0 or something

Call me old-fashioned, but I'm the sort who believes that the umpires' word is final. The laws of the game take the same stand. If the players believe the pitch isn't up to scratch, then you do what they did in Antigua - start the match, put a few balls down to prove your point, then go home and try another day - and that's a very recent precedent that's been set.

As for allowing both captains to agree to cancel / forfeit - if you allow them to do that, and split the points from the match, then you're creating a loophole that's wide-open for abuse - you don't want to go there. You either replay if possible, or accept the abandonment but award no points to either side. Either way, the captains have ignored the Laws and will likely - and rightly - be sanctioned for that.

From the Laws of Cricket:
Law 3.8. Fitness of ground, weather and light
The umpires shall be the final judges of the fitness of the ground, weather and light for play. See 9 below and Law 7.2 (Fitness of the pitch for play).

From the MCC Q&A on that Law (PDF):
At no time do the captains have the power to decide on the suitability of the conditions for play. It is the umpires who decide in each case which of the three categories applies to the conditions. If they consider that conditions are at level 1 (suitable) the captains have no choice; they have to play. If the umpires decide that conditions are at level 3 (unreasonable or dangerous), the captains have no choice; they will not be allowed to play. It is only when the umpires decide that conditions are at level 2 (unsuitable), that the captains have any powers. The total extent of the captains’ powers is to have the choice of whether to play or not in conditions classed as ‘unsuitable’, and then only if they agree that they both wish to play.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I agree with you, but I think these are extreme circumstances. The extent of varying pitches the umpires would see are essentially the grounds that are hosting games for this series and potentially the handful of club grounds remaining.

Chigumbura and Masakadza have played nearly 200 games of international experience between them, in addition to the plethora of games played by their teammates. If it were international players dealing with international umpires, fair enough. If it were club players dealing with club umpires then fair enough. But this is a case of international players dealing with a-few-games-a-year umpires - I definitely trust the judgment of Masakadza and Chigumbura in a situation like this.

And considering what has transpired, so do ZC:

THE third round clash between title favourites Easterns and rank outsiders Westerns has been moved from the CFX Academy to Harare Sports Club while another potential thriller featuring winless but brilliant Centrals and Northern pegged for Takashinga goes as scheduled on Tuesday.

[maehara]

Both matches today were rain-affected...

Easterns beat Westerns by 13 runs:
http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=613

Northerns beat Centrals by 47 runs:
http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=612

...and all remaining matches which had been scheduled to be played at Academy will now be played at HSC. Still no word on the 'official' result of the abandoned Northerns v Easterns match - ZC had promised a decision by lunchtime today, but if one's been reached they're keeping it to themnselves.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Still no scorecard from the March 3 matches on Cricinfo...