Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka | ICC CWC Qualifier | 2nd July 2023

[secretzimbo]

We will see. Time will tell. All I know is that Jongwe can bat. His biggest enemy is himself but if he was really motivated he would shock people.

I agree

[Donald]

Kaia needs to come in for madhevere at 3.
Mayavo for Jongwe at 7.
Maybe give gumbie a break from gloves if it is effecting batting.

[secretzimbo]

Mayavo?!?!?!?

Surely Marumani gets picked before Mayavo.

[Donald]

Mayavo?!?!?!?

Surely Marumani gets picked before Mayavo.

Looks like an organised player from what i saw against the counties and against the dutch in a warm up match

[eugene]

While a defeat isn't surprising, the nature of it is disappointing. Our NRR advantage is now gone and the match against Scotland is a winner takes all. I'm getting nervous!

[eugene]

For all the talk of Zimbabwean football being in the doldrums, the local league is seeing a resurgence in interest with attendances the highest they have been in a long time. Apparently the international ban is forcing people to watch local football as there isn't anything else to watch that involves Zimbabwean players.

https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/5 ... ll-revival

Which team should I get behind? Highlanders FC or Bulawayo Chiefs?

[Kriterion_BD]

While a defeat isn't surprising, the nature of it is disappointing. Our NRR advantage is now gone and the match against Scotland is a winner takes all. I'm getting nervous!

Everyone knew this tournament was going to be decided literally by a run here or a run there. That was the case in 2018, and here as well.

Although I have been a [lukewarm] proponent of the 10 team WC - my ideal number was 12, and would currently be 14. This WCQ just has so much drama and climax…it’s basically the sporting equivalent of those 5 minute videos of facials from your favorite porn star.

I’ll be the first to admit the last 2 Qualifiers have been 100x as exciting as the actual World Cup itself.

[Googly]

Tawanda Muyeye had to leave for Kent because he couldn’t get a game in the white dominated ZC set up lol.

Muyeye just banged 170 odd. His first century. Such a loss. Its his own doing though. He doesn't care about us

I just think he had/has opportunity and huge aspirations. Nobody just walks away without some sort of tug at what might have been. Don't forget his move was pre ZC engaging Houghton and making what looks like some good decisions and progress. I will guarantee he considers Zim an option, it may be a fall back option, but ZC would be silly to write him off. A lot can happen in the next couple of years. These looming retirements will become calamitous in the near future. ZC need to look beyond having just a squad, they need to beef up the franchise teams so there's much less of a gap. A pressing issue is a dearth of high quality bowlers. Look at the gap between Blessing, Richard and then our other seamers. We can plug a gap in the batting line-up, but imagine these two are out at the same time! I'd say the door is open for Melton although I'm not sure what he's up to atm.

[secretzimbo]

For all the talk of Zimbabwean football being in the doldrums, the local league is seeing a resurgence in interest with attendances the highest they have been in a long time. Apparently the international ban is forcing people to watch local football as there isn't anything else to watch that involves Zimbabwean players.

https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/5 ... ll-revival

Which team should I get behind? Highlanders FC or Bulawayo Chiefs?

Despite some very optimistic claims by cricket folk, the truth is that football does remain 10,000 times more popular than cricket in reality here.

Pretty sure 90% of the new fans turning up to watch cricket just like a singalong and a beer or ten. I doubt many will go and watch a Logan Cup match or get involved with any local clubs.

[Googly]

50% of the fans face the other direction and just enjoy the singing and dancing. Fact