[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v Pakistan (3rd ODI)

[maehara]

Zimbabwe v Pakistan: 3rd ODI
Harare Sports Club, 14 September 2011

Match chatter here as usual...

[CrimsonAvenger]

Jarvis replacing Mpofu seems to be the only change for the match:

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2011-0 ... ead-rubber

Fast bowler Kyle Jarvis was on Tuesday recalled for Zimbabwe’s dead rubber One-Day International (ODI) cricket match against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.

There was, however, no pace for lanky seamer Christopher Mpofu although Brian Vitori retained his place as the selectors have once again opted for just two specialist seamers.

Predictably, the selectors were expected to ring changes in the bowling department which came unstuck against the unbroken record 228-run opening stand between Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat which formed the backbone for the 10-wicket mauling.

Surprisingly, spinners Ray Price and Prosper Utseya, were both preferred ahead of other seam options despite the fact that spinners tend to struggle on the Harare Sports Club pitch.

Zimbabwe will, however, hope that the return of Jarvis will see some improvement, but the support he will get from Vitori and all-rounder Elton Chigumbura will be vital.

Vitori had back-to-back five wicket hauls at Harare Sports Club against Bangladesh prior to ongoing tour by Pakistan in which he is yet to claim his first wicket.

No doubt the Masvingo-born left arm quickie will be eager to make amends after rude awakening which should have encouraged him to keep working hard.

Chamu Chibhabha, who has struggled in his return to the side so far has been given another chance and will open the batting with Vusi Sibanda.

In the first two ODIs the opening partnership has not managed to go beyond 15 runs and it has proven to be Zimbabwe’s downfall as they always tend to do well when their openers get off to a solid start.

Senior players Hamilton Masakadza and skipper Brendan Taylor, the only batsman to show some form of resistance with knocks of 68 and 50 respectively, will come in at number three and four respectively.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller and Chigumbura, will form the middle order batting department.

In the last match the batsman struggled to settle as the pitched proved a tough one to bat on initially, but the situation was made worse by Zimbabwe’s ultra-cautious approach.

In some instances the batsman looked eager to hit the ball too hard for a boundary in some cases where it could have been easier to settle for the quick singles and in the end it cost them 30-40 runs.

[FlowerPower]

Would have dropped one of the slower bowlers for Jarvis. And totally agree with the last sentence (actually applies a lot to Hami), these guys should rotate the strike instead of searching for a boundary every ball.

This bowling attack (minus Chigs for Lamb) would be one suited to QSC, I'd have had Mpofu in for one of Utseya or Price for HSC...if he needs a rest it would have been good to have a look at one of the others in the long queue of quicks awaiting their turn (Chatara, Ncube, Nicholson, Rainsford, Masakadza, etc...)

[andybligz93]

bring in blignaut for chibabaha and drop waller for blignaut then also drop chigz for bligz

[FlowerPower]

bring in blignaut for chibabaha and drop waller for blignaut then also drop chigz for bligz

[andybligz93]

why is there noo god dam sound on the stream!

[FlowerPower]

Wow ...a miracle, sorry a maiden from Vitori, after the pasting...

[brmtaylor.com admin]

A few wickets down, so already a better performance than the previous ODI. I feel we need to have them about 5 or 6 down for 200 or else this could end up being a 280-290 like total.

I liked this comment on Cricinfo:

Samiullah: "We say "RFM", "SLA" for bowlers, why we can not say it for Slow scoring batsmans like "Righ Handed Slow Sytle Batsman", "Left Handed Fast Medium Hitter?" That's a strange request.

So what are some of our guys?

Coventry Right Hand Fast Hitter?
Mawoyo Right Hand Slow?
Sibanda Right Hand Pullshot?

[Lostart]

Just watching how easily Pakistan are scoring it looks like Zim is going to be chasing a really big score, 300+ easily at this rate, this could be a good thing because it will force some of our players to actually try rotate the strike, something they don't seem to do apart from Taibu. Looks a good batting pitch i can't understand why we only made 224 in the last game.

[PieChucker]

Shaky start from Vitori and Jarvis. Pakistan on top, but wickets will tumble towards the end. Zim will be chasing 300. They can do it. Come on Babwe!