*Official* West Indies in Zimbabwe Thread

[Neil Pickup]

Just short of a good length for pacemen to left handers..

WI 179/2 (42ov)

Hinds c Blignaut b Mahwire 79

Lara 29*, Ganga 47*

 

[Neil Pickup]

Oops. Prediction League further up the Khyber.

Lara lofts Price straight down Mahwire's throat at long-off

179/3 - Game On!

 

[Rik]

That man again! Mahwire. Well at least he can catch

 

[Rik]

I've just read Mahwire's biography, his main ambition is to break the Record Test batting score, which at time of writing was Lara's 375...

Another Mark Richardson or just a kid with very high ambitions?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

And the third day is over in Harare. WI at 241/6, 67 behind the follow-on target. Chanderpaul seems settled, but so did Sarwan and Lara, and I think the lower order might struggle here. Ray Price 3/39 off 18 overs - got Lara, Sarwan and Jacobs - pretty good scalps that!

If WI manage 308, the match is a dead certain draw. But at the moment, Chanderpaul and Drakes need to go into slogging mode to get that.

 

[Chubb]

Zimbabwe can win this...

And Mahwire finally got some test wickets. You have to wish him well really, it's not his fault he keeps getting picked.

 

[Tim]

lol Liam "no life in the pitch"

Well Zimbabwe must have found something to have the West Indies at 249/6.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The pitch was rolled over and over with a heavy roller. Then chunks of it were dug up and replaced. Not quite the same pitch Zimbabwe batted on...

In addition to that, there were English type conditions this morning - 20odd degrees, moisture in the air, overcast. I don't know how the West Indies batted, I only saw until lunch, but this is certainly not the same pitch or conditions as on the first day or two. Also Zimbabwe have a specialist spin option.

I'm not trying to justify our position, as you can ask anyone else who has seen the game and they will tell you the same.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Zimbabwe can win this...

And Mahwire finally got some test wickets. You have to wish him well really, it's not his fault he keeps getting picked.

His first two overs were very impressive maidens. He looked to be getting some swing and it had me wondering why he's bad mouthed so much. He certainly bowled well of what I saw and his fielding off his bowling was superb.

 

[Mr. P]

Sorry Liam, but you have to admit Zimbabwe have done well to get to the position they are in, and yes, they have a good chance of winning. I think it will be a draw, but if Zimbabwe can get early wickets tommorro, who knows?

 

[Tim]

You cannot make excuses about the fact that Zim selected a spin bowler & the West Indies didn't but fair point that the pitch had an unfair advantage yesterday after that roller incident.

But I don't see how you can blame conditions or the pitch that much considering both Hinds & Ganga scored 70 each on it at a very good clip supposedly when the conditions were at their worst.

 

[Chubb]

I think we all underestimated Mahwire because most of us have only seen him play against Australia. He played one test before that, against Pakistan, but i don't think it was televised. Like many young bowlers he was probably overawed, and they (batsmen) treated him with contempt. From his figures in this match he certainly looks promising.

 

[Mr. P]

I think Chubb and Tim are both right. Chubb, there was no denying the mahwire was inexperienced and very wayward in Australia, but it was only one test, so we can hardly judge him.

Tim, thats exactly what I mean. Gayle and Hinds proved you can bat on this pitch, so I don't think anything should be taken away from Zimbabwe.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sorry Liam, but you have to admit Zimbabwe have done well to get to the position they are in, and yes, they have a good chance of winning. I think it will be a draw, but if Zimbabwe can get early wickets tommorro, who knows?

I am not discrediting Zimbabwe, but for those of us who saw the pitch repair and weather this morning it's not surprising that they are getting more support bowling wise.

That said, Hinds threw away his wicket, Lara did the same, Sarwan misjudged a quick one, Jacobs has always struggled against spin and Ganga was extremely unlucky.

Read my match report on the front page.

"Just 4 runs later and the West Indian problems were compounded in one of the most unfortunate dismissals you would see. Ganga deflected a Mahwire delivery of the bottom edge of his bat into the pitch. The ball the bounced up and hit his arm guard and ultimately he was bowled for 73 - 215/5."

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

You cannot make excuses about the fact that Zim selected a spin bowler & the West Indies didn't but fair point that the pitch had an unfair advantage yesterday after that roller incident.

But I don't see how you can blame conditions or the pitch that much considering both Hinds & Ganga scored 70 each on it at a very good clip supposedly when the conditions were at their worst.

I haven't blamed the conditions as yet. My comments were in defense of my lifeless pitch comments, because yesterday the pitch was dead.

Re: Spinner selection. Banks is the only spinner taken on tour and he was ill. Besides, that spinner comment was intended to be a joke.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Tim, thats exactly what I mean. Gayle and Hinds proved you can bat on this pitch, so I don't think anything should be taken away from Zimbabwe.

You mean Ganga. They batted very well with few problems, but ultimately neither should have been out. Ganga was EXTREMELY unlucky and Hinds gave his hand away.

 

[Mr. P]

You mean Ganga. They batted very well with few problems, but ultimately neither should have been out. Ganga was EXTREMELY unlucky and Hinds gave his hand away.

Yeah well, you know what i mean.

No need to tell me about it.:P

 

[Langeveldt]

Great to see Zimbabwe in such a commanding position without any flower brothers.. And Blignaut in the runs.. The kid may be raw but he has got explosive talent... Also nice to see Daren Ganga making his mark in test cricket after a good Australia series...

How do you guys rate his chances of being picked against England???

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

If Ganga outperforms Samuels on this African tour and averages over 32, he will play against England.

 

[Neil Pickup]

He'll be annoyed with 31.75 then?