Match Thread: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI

Wow, some lovely footwork by Sibanda. Beautifully played. 4444444

Andy, are you using Internet Explorer? Sopcast only works in IE, not Firefox or Netscape or anything else. Only IE.

Masakaza was unlucky. There was no first slip, and Akmal just got his hands to it. Should have been 4, knowing Akmal's form.

Anyway, Chibhabha at the crease now.

After 16 overs:

Pakistan 89/2

Zimbabwe 86/1

...and yet CricInfo call Zimbabwe's reply 'laboured'. ::Sigh:: Looks like they're keeping reasonably in touch, to me...

EDIT: ..and their match commentary is taking a different approach from their home-page headline, at least. :)

This is a very impressive start by Zimbabwe

Nah, it doesn't look laboured, but Zimbabwe have been a bit lucky. Chibhabha was almost caught a minute ago, a bit unsettled maybe. Sibanda is looking really, really good, he is favouring the leg side a bit at the moment, especially anything short that he can pull.

I'll give commentary a shot then. This is unbiased:

Commentary by brmtaylor.com - ball by ball

14.1: Khan to Chibhabha - defended on to the off side, no run there.

14.2: Khan to Chibhabha - bouncer! Chibhabha ducks down, bowler lucky not to be called wide.

14.3: Khan to Chibhabha - defended down the pitch, Sibanda shouts NO!

14.4: Khan to Chibhabha - wild shot, massive swing. Was attempting to pull, and it looked ugly.

14.5: Khan to Chibhabha - bouncer, this one called wide. Chibhabha gets out of the way.

14.5: Khan to Chibhabha - worked into the on side for 2. Easily get back due to a lousy throw.

14.6: Khan to Chibhabha - a single, played into the ground and rolls quickly to third man.

1/73, powerplay 3 called.

15.1: Rao to Chibhabha - edged, but no slips in place. The batsmen run for 2 comfortably.

A first slip is brought in.

15.2: Rao to Chibhabha - EDGED! Almost caught by the keeper, a little bit high, a little bit wide, and races away for 4. Very lucky.

15.3: Rao to Chibhabha - played to gully for a quick single.

15.4: Rao to Sibanda - lovely drive. Not straight down the ground, but none the less it beats the fielder and the batsmen can run 2.

15.5: Rao to Sibanda - in the air for a little while, but lands short of the gully fielder.

15.6: Rao to Sibanda - NICE SHOT! Lovely pull shot in to no-mans-land, and that is 4.

13 from the over. 1/86, Sibanda on 46 not out.

V Sibanda c Younis Khan b Iftikhar Anjum 59

Bugger. Good knock, though.

Taibu next in. Where's Taylor!?

maehara wrote:V Sibanda c Younis Khan b Iftikhar Anjum 59

Bugger. Good knock, though.

Taibu next in. Where's Taylor!?

Number 5 I expect. It was a good change of pace by Iftikhar, Sibanda didn't pick the slower ball and hit it down Younis' throat.

Great innings, let's hope Taibu can continue the good work.

Zimbabwe have a good run rate, this game isn't gone. Granted, it will be hard to win, but if we could give ourselves to 200 after 30 overs (requiring 150 from the last 20) who knows what could happen.

Taylor in :)

And Taylor out, stumped.

Williams at the crease now. Matsikenyeri and Chigumbura still to come, but it's looking a bit dire.

The commentators are pretty cluey:

"So, does Zimbabwe have any sloggers to come?"

"Well, Stuart Matsikenyeri is out next"

*silence*

"There is also Chigumbura and Utseya to come".

Congratulations, you can read the squad list 😂

Probably safe to say the match is beyond them now - unless Williams, Utseya and Chigumbura can produce something really special between them. After such a good start, too...

Yeah, the game is gone. It would be nice to see Williams and Chigumbura both get some good scores. If another player reaches 50, it will be the world record number of half centuries in an ODI.

I think Zimbabwe will play better in the next few matches. It is important to restrict Pakistan though. Zim wouldn't have lost (well, you know what I mean :) ) this match had Pakistan only made 270 or so.

These commentators are annoying the hell out of me. They couldn't spend 5 min on Cricinfo to research the team they are commentating for?

Off the top of my head, one bloke said "I don't think South Africa can win from here". Another said "Utseya is a medium pace bowler, you can't expect much from him with the bat" (huh??), one guy said that Matsikenyeri was the biggest hitter in the team, and just a few minutes ago they are saying "Why aren't Zimbabwe trying to win?" - err, well because no team can chase down 20 an over.

:evil:

The only question now is can Williams get his 50 with 4 overs to go.

34*