[Match thread] Only Test - Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh

[Boundary]

Well we got 3 wickets but it was at the cost of a very high run rate. However, from a BD perspective, they need 263 runs with 4 recognised batsmen - so I'd rather have the Zim problem than theirs. Ashraful and Shakib will be the big wickets for me but any 2 in the morning session and we'll be in with a sniff. I like the new aggressive Zim I must say. Vitori was expensive, so Mpofu fills in; Kyle "McGrath" Jarvis finally got something to show for his impressive display and best of all, today saw Taibu and Ervine refuse to give their wickets cheaply. Cautiously happy - BD still has a big chance to draw and an outside chance of a win but considering out seam attack, we have our noses ahead, just.

[Kriterion_BD]

90-10 in Zimbabwe's favor now, and its highly unlikely - though not impossible - that those odds will change. Taylor made the correct move and his bowlers repaid the faith. Taking 3 top order wickets cheaply has put Zimbabwe in the firm driver's seat. It will be exceedingly difficult for Bangladesh to chase or even draw this match with a full 90 overs remaining.

Well done, you guys have earned bragging rights, and I for one and astounded at how much development you've shown in the space of just 6 months (since the World Cup). The humble pie tastes terrible!

Hopefully the ICC sees this and gives Ireland and Afghanistan a clear roadmap to Test status.

[Shasha]

:Vitori and Jarvis are more aggressive than the Bangladesh seamers,2moro we will definetly win big:

[maehara]

I'm happy with the timing of the declaration - if we lose now (still not impossible), it'll be while aggressively trying to win the match, and I think that will do our reputation more good than batting on to where a draw was the most likely result.

And I reckon we'll still win anyway.

Lots of thoughts on this match, which I'm going to have to put together. Watch for a comment piece on ZCN soon.

[Lostart]

I would like to see Price bowling from one end and give the seamers short spells from the other,. Ray can keep it tight and put the pressure on and the quick's can run in hard and try pick up a couple wicket. Of course, we may have to rely on Ray because our Fastbowlers are

just ok, he's nothing special

and

He's ordinary."

[FlowerPower]

I would like to see Price bowling from one end and give the seamers short spells from the other,. Ray can keep it tight and put the pressure on and the quick's can run in hard and try pick up a couple wicket. Of course, we may have to rely on Ray because our Fastbowlers are

just ok, he's nothing special

and

He's ordinary."

Nice one!

[foreignfield]

I'm happy with the timing of the declaration - if we lose now (still not impossible), it'll be while aggressively trying to win the match, and I think that will do our reputation more good than batting on to where a draw was the most likely result.

We are firm favourites to win, but I still think the declaration was over-generous and a bit silly. It's the kind of declaration you'll often see in domestic cricket where wins are paramount - but they often go wrong (in Conty cricket there have been a lot of very high succesful run chases in recent times). The pundits and a lot of fans are always crying for attacking cricket, but when it goes wrong everyone is quick to turn on you. I don't think we will get much credit for an attacking declaration if we're not able to defend 375. When declaring one should always keep in mind what the opposition would least like you to do, just ask Stuart Law whether he backs his players to play their natural game and score 375 on very good batting wicket or shut up shop for 110 overs.

There was no reason why we shouldn't have batted on for another 10 overs or so. If we can't bowl Bangladesh out in 105-110 overs we're not going to bowl them out in a 120 (at 3 an over they would get there in 115). I don't buy the "dangled carrot"-theory either. This is Bangladesh, there's not Dravid around who will happily bat six hours for 60 runs, they can't block for 3 and half sessions. In fact, if they go in their shells they're as likely to get out. A less sporting declaration will also often turn out to be agressive move in itself as you can keep attacking fields for much longer. If we don't get an early breakthrough we might have to keep a close eye on the run rate.

And finally, it's not what the two Andys (Strauss and Flower) would have done. And they're number one in the world (and one of them a Zimbabwean).

[takleg]

Two early break throughs are going to be important and I feel the key player for us is Razor. Taylor will probably give Vitori and Kyle a run for the first 10 overs and then bring Ray early for a marathon spell of tight bowling while the quicks will be operating from the other end. 7 wickets will be tough to get, but we should get them by lunch and secure a dream come back to Test cricket!

[andybligz93]

bring mpofu on

[Boundary]

Ash gone for 39. Vitori my son!