Series thread: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe Tri-Series

[Minnows cricket fan]

Zimbabwe all out for 80

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

This will seriously affect the net run rate. I fear this will boost the bangla choices.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

SL with 5 points is already through. Zim has NRR of -0.13 and bangla -0.7.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I don't know how net run rate works, so is someone able to work out the maximum Bangladesh could beat Sri Lanka by before their net run rate exceeds Zimbabwe's?

[maehara]

I don't know how net run rate works, so is someone able to work out the maximum Bangladesh could beat Sri Lanka by before their net run rate exceeds Zimbabwe's?

How NRR is calculated: CricInfo, Wikipedia.

Looking at the points table on CricInfo, Bangladesh's run-rate is already ahead of ours (-0.76 vs -0.92), which makes things simple - if they beat Sri Lanka on Wednesday, whatever the score, they're through (run-rate can only get better with a win). If they lose, we're through on points scored.

[aydee]

Obviously a really poor result. However, on the bright side, the bowling and fielding has been pretty outstanding for the last couple of months, and has genuinely held its own against Sri Lanka. The batting really does seem to be short of international class though, there doesn't even seem to be anyone who might dominate against the likes of Bangladesh or Kenya. I hope I'm proved wrong on that one in the next month or so.

[Zimcricketfan]

Bad result today our batter really need to stand up for the rest of the series or the will be more result like that in the future maybe Zimbabwe need to get a batting coach to improve the standed of the batting

[Detective RDS]

The bowling of Zimbabwe is getting better and better.A good positive sign!

But the batting is let the team down.Opener Vusimuzi Sibanda is out of form.Good to see that Stuart Matsikenyeri has returned to form.It's a matter of thinking that a vital player Sean Williams is out of form.I think,Malcolm Waller will get a chance to make his ODI debute in the next match.Keith Dabengwa did score highest for Zimbabwe in the last 2 ODIs vs Sri Lanka in their last home series.But Dabengwa failed with the bat here scoring 10 vs Ban and 6 vs SL.Davengwa bowled well in the against Bangladesh but gave away 26 runs in 4 overs in today's match.Bit expensive!

[r@ndom]

better to lose today than win i think, it means we have more of a chance for an upset win if we play sri lanka in the final. had zimbabwe won today then SL would have wanted revenge in the next match. hopefully this defeat will be a blessing in disguise.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Another heart-breaking defeat

Looking at the positives, though, I feel currently the bowling is truly world class. I was of the feeling that we did well against Sri Lanka at home, purely because the conditions favoured us, and that we did well against Bangladesh, because their batting talent is questionable. But today's performance seals it. Coming back from such a horrendous start to restrict a full strength Sri Lanka is no mean job.

It is another of those countless mysteries as to why Rainsford was not part of the national team for a couple of years, but now that he is in, he surely has proved his worth. I for one, at least believe that Rainsford can make the test squad of any of Bangla, WI, NZ, and even England, for that matter. It would be a treat to watch him bowl in the swinging conditions of England and NZ; but that won't happen anytime soon.

We all agree that ZCF Player of 2008, Ray Price can walk into any test squad, probably barring Sri Lanka, at this moment. Chigumbura, Mupariwa, and Utseya, as observed by brmtaylor.com admin in another thread, is on par or just below par at international arena; and can easily improve to get there.

Batting is the issue, as always. I thought it was a good thing that Taibu came to the crease before the spinners started operating today, and felt that he would settle well enough before unleashing reverse sweeps against Murali and Mendis. That was not to be, and he once again showed that he has reached the summit of extravagance. Some in the forum might feel that I am being too harsh on him, but he must have realized that "he is the man" long ago. It is appalling to see the carelessness shown by him, which is such a waste of talent.

Sibanda looks confused right from the Sri Lankan home series. He looks like someone who doesn't know what his role in the team is. Frankly, at this stage of his career, niether do I. Williams for one, is indeed confused, and has lost form for the first time in his career. Masakadza, I hope will come good sooner rather than later. The batting situation has deterirated so much that we have started accepting odd decent performances of Dabengwa and Matsikenyeri.

Anyway, hope that Bangla loses to Lanka and we make the finals, spring a surprise there and emerge victorious...