South Africa vs Zimbabwe

[Sovik]

zimbabwe is doing very good at this point

[battye]

Masakadza out. But Taylor's in (which is probably a worse prospect for South Africa!)

[battye]

Damn, here comes the collapse. Chibhaba out.

Taylor and Matsikinyeri (according to Cricinfo it's Rainsford.. must be an error) both in, and must form a 50+ partnership.

Only remaining batsman is Chigumbura, then it's into the bowlers.

[Tigers_eye]

150 up for 4 in 38.4 overs. good going boys.

[Tigers_eye]

Costly wicket at this stage. 158/5 Taylor still there.

39.6 Langeveldt to Matsikenyeri, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

[battye]

158/5 (39.6 ov)

Taylor still out there. If they are to make 220+ Taylor is the man to do it.. I'm just worried that he'll run out of partners.

It is a real shame to see this happening after such a solid start.

Who would have thought that about 5 overs ago they were 2/130?

[Tigers_eye]

Taylor gone. Collapse in the making. 158/6 40.1 overs.

40.1 Nel to Taylor, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

[battye]

Game over. Taylor gone.

[battye]

I was probably a bit quick off the mark to say that. Chigumbura is still around, and could probably smash a few boundaries in the final overs.

Utseya should be able to stick around, he should take it upon himself to stick around until the end and give Chigumbura as much of the strike as possible.

The aim for Zimbabwe now is to bat out all 50 overs. At 6/160 from essentially 42 overs, the target should be 200 - 210.

It will be a respectable score, and will give them something to defend.

Go Zimbabwe!

[Sovik]

if cigumbura could hit some bounderies now

[Tigers_eye]

Yes!!! Zimbabwe have done both the things I wanted them to do. They crosses 200 and stayed entire 50 overs. hats off to them. They have a real chance for qualifying for the CT.

[battye]

They reach 200.

Zimbabwe 201/7 (49.6 ov)

The Zimbabwean's should be satisfied with that performance. I didn't say "very happy with that performance" simply because of that middle order crash. If one of Masakadza, Chibhabha or Taylor was to be out there at the end, they would have made 230+.

Never-the-less, they have a score to defend, and they should be aiming to:

- Take 5 wickets.
- Make South Africa bat for at least 40 overs.

It's past midnight here, so hopefully I will hear some updates occassionally on the BBC world service

Good luck Zimbabwe

[battye]

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
Yes!!! Zimbabwe have done both the things I wanted them to do. They crosses 200 and stayed entire 50 overs. hats off to them. They have a real chance for qualifying for the CT.

Indeed. This is against one of the top sides, in South Africa. They could be able to score 250/260 against the West Indies or Bangladesh.

[prasad]

They could be able to score 250/260 against the West Indies or Bangladesh.

not sure abt that.zim will not score that much against 87-90mph bowling .recent series b/n wi and zim was a non contest.

[Miraz]

South Africa in a spot of bother,

28/2 after 7 overs.

[Tigers_eye]

South Africa is cruzing to a victory. But not before getting a scare. 121 4th wicket partnership has saved them from blemishes. Zim did hold their own.

[al Furqaan]

we lost to an up and coming ZIM side...more embarrasing was our losing 2 matches to comparitively rubbish ZIM side in 05.

[battye]

Originally Posted by prasad
not sure abt that.zim will not score that much against 87-90mph bowling .recent series b/n wi and zim was a non contest.

That was several months ago. Duffin, Rinke etc were all newcomers who had only played their first ODI less than a month earlier against Kenya.

The team was still gel-ling together. They would have gained a lot of experience on the tour though, which they then used against Bangladesh. I think once this South African tour is over they will have gained a lot, I think it is well and truly possible for 250/260 against BD or West Indies.

[al Furqaan]

prasad...actually the ZIM-WI series was closer than a non-contest. yes WI won with much to spare...but not without suffering a few scares.

[Andy-Flower]

Zim did well by their standard, although today is going to be difficult for them bacause S.A will come hard at them after the critisism they got for Friday's perfomance. The spectators where 6300{unexpectedly}. They are a young side without no-one to mentor them like all the other teams, the oldest player is 24, so you dont expect much but for them to learn and gain some experience with each outing

[Sovik]

hoping for a good match today

gayle gone. lets hope for no collapse

[battye]

Originally Posted by sovik
hoping for a good match today

gayle gone. lets hope for no collapse

That's the WI game

Duffin out for Zimbabwe, Mufambisi in and is opening. 0/0 after 1 over.

[Sovik]

1.4	Ntini to Sibanda, OUT
	V Sibanda c Boucher b Ntini 0 (9b 0x4 0x6) sr: 0.00

[battye]

45/3

Zimbabwe struggling a bit, but Chibhabha doing alright. If he and Taylor can get the score up to 100 without another wicket it would be good.

[battye]

16.1	Kallis to Taylor, OUT
	BRM Taylor c Hall b Kallis 5 (12b 1x4 0x6) sr: 41.66

Big wicket