Story England's Tour of New Zealand and Zimbabwe

[tigerdes]

That is a pair of absolutely brilliant knocks I must say. I'm still struggling to make my first double century let alone get a triple. My top score is still Ashley Giles 145* against Trinidad. I think Zimbabwe are in a word, buggered!!!

Hands up who senses a follow on?

 

[m_vaughan]

well even if Zimbabwe manage to score 497(i.e one run short of avoiding the follow on), I will enforce the follow on!

 

[m_vaughan]

well tiger...my highest test match score in hard more using patches before this was 167 (M Vaughan)..... so im delighted to have reached my first 200 and my 300 in the same game. The fact that Thorpe remained unbeaten on 302, makes me feel a whole lot better. The team is more important than these individual milestones. I am sure Mr. Ponting agrees with me here. Not quite sure how Mr. Lara feels though.

 

[tigerdes]

Mr Ponting can go and blow it out of his arse!!! What a load of rubbish, Lara should have declared, hah! If they were on to win the series that would have been a different story but given how badly they batted in the other games he was right to keep going and avoid the whitewash.

Can't see Zimbabwe making 297 let alone 497 but we shall see...

 

[m_vaughan]

yes i agree....ponting does at times contradict himself!!

 

[m_vaughan]

UPDATE: Day 3 (At Stumps)
Zimbabwe 81/2 (2nd Innings)
B. Taylor 40*
M. Vermeulen 28*

Zimbabwe 141 all out (1st Innings)
D. Ebrahim 34

J. Anderson 3-27
G. Batty 3-36

England 698-6 decl. (1st Innings)

10 wickets fell on Day 3 of this 1st Zimsun Test between Zimbabwe and England, and not surprisingly all of them were Zimbabwe wickets. Resuming their overnight score of 14/2, and still needing another 484 to avoid a follow on, Tatenda Taibu's team were bowled out for just 141. The only resistance came from Dion Ebrahim, the most experienced player in the Zimbabwean squad. Off spinner Gareth Batty playing in place of Ashley Giles, who pulled out of this tour due to moral reasons, took full advantage of this oppurtunity bagging three wickets. James Anderson also picked up three wickets, while Harmison and Johnson bagged two wickets each. Hondo and Panyangara did frustate the England bowlers at then end, with a 10th wicket partnership of 39 runs.
Follow-on was enforced, and the possibility of the test match being completed on this third day was looking all the more likely.

Zimbabwe again lost early wickets, that of Stuart Matsikenyeri and Dion Ebrahim. However since then Mark Vermeulen and Brendon Taylor have played really well, and at the end of day 3, Zimbabwe are 81/2, with both Taylor and Vermeulen unbeaten on 40 and 28 respectively.

Despite a considerably better show from Zimbabwe in the 2nd Innings, only a brave man would bet against an England win.
Stay tuned to this thread.

 

[m_vaughan]

Zim Scorecard

Zim Batting

Eng Bowling

 

[m_vaughan]

 

[m_vaughan]

Zim Scorecard

Zim Batting

Eng Bowling

 

[tigerdes]

I still don't fancy their chances much to be honest!!!! C'mon hurry up and beat them I want to see the Champions Trophy!!!!

 

[m_vaughan]

i dont think any one fancies their chances!!

i am also looking forward to the icc champions trophy which will start as soon as the second test ends...ill try to speed things up as much as possible.
---------------------------

UPDATE: Day 4 (3:06 PM)
Zimbabwe 249 all out (2nd Innings)
B. Taylor 62
M. Nkala 51
M. Vermeulen 51

S. Harmison 4/65

Zimbabwe 141 all out (1st Innings)
England 698-6 decl. (1st Innings)

ENGLAND WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 308 RUNS
ENGLAND LEAD SERIES 1-0, 1 MATCH REMAINING

Zimbabwe were in a pretty decent position of 81-2 at the end of day 3 in their second innings, but still far behind England's mammoth 1st innings total of 698. Brendon Taylor soon reached his fifty, but wasnt able to convert it into a big score, when he was caught by Andrew Strauss off Steve Harmison. Mark Vermeulen's patient innings did reward him with a half century, but he do failed to build on that, before being caught by Mark Butcher off Richard Johnson. The Zimbabwe middle order did not put up much resistance, apart from a well battled 33 from Chigumbura and an entertaining 51 from surprise package Muleki Nkala. Zimbabwe were eventually dismissed for 249, with Steve Harmison bagging four wickets in the innings, and an impressive six wickets in the match. A much better performance by Zimbabwe in the second innings, especially by Vermeulen, Taylor and Nkala, but at the end England proved to be a bit too strong for this young Zimbabwe team.
Man of the Match: Graham Thorpe for his unbeaten 302
A special award was given to Andrew Strauss as well for his 225.

Both teams now head to Bulawayo for the second and final test match of this Zimsun test series. England looking for a clean sweep in the test series as well after winning the ODIs 3-0. Will England rest some of its players, will Zimbabwe bounce back?? For all these answers stay tuned to this thread.

 

[m_vaughan]

i dont think any one fancies their chances!!

i am also looking forward to the icc champions trophy which will start as soon as the second test ends...ill try to speed things up as much as possible.
---------------------------

UPDATE: Day 4 (3:06 PM)
Zimbabwe 249 all out (2nd Innings)
B. Taylor 62
M. Nkala 51
M. Vermeulen 51

S. Harmison 4/65

Zimbabwe 141 all out (1st Innings)
England 698-6 decl. (1st Innings)

ENGLAND WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 308 RUNS
ENGLAND LEAD SERIES 1-0, 1 MATCH REMAINING

Zimbabwe were in a pretty decent position of 81-2 at the end of day 3 in their second innings, but still far behind England's mammoth 1st innings total of 698. Brendon Taylor soon reached his fifty, but wasnt able to convert it into a big score, when he was caught by Andrew Strauss off Steve Harmison. Mark Vermeulen's patient innings did reward him with a half century, but he do failed to build on that, before being caught by Mark Butcher off Richard Johnson. The Zimbabwe middle order did not put up much resistance, apart from a well battled 33 from Chigumbura and an entertaining 51 from surprise package Muleki Nkala. Zimbabwe were eventually dismissed for 249, with Steve Harmison bagging four wickets in the innings, and an impressive six wickets in the match. A much better performance by Zimbabwe in the second innings, especially by Vermeulen, Taylor and Nkala, but at the end England proved to be a bit too strong for this young Zimbabwe team.
Man of the Match: Graham Thorpe for his unbeaten 302
A special award was given to Andrew Strauss as well for his 225.

Both teams now head to Bulawayo for the second and final test match of this Zimsun test series. England looking for a clean sweep in the test series as well after winning the ODIs 3-0. Will England rest some of its players, will Zimbabwe bounce back?? For all these answers stay tuned to this thread.

 

[m_vaughan]

Zimbabwe Scorecard

Zimbabwe Batting

England bowling

 

[m_vaughan]

Second test match has started....after 25 overs Zimbabwe are 105/2....full details of the entire 1st days play coming up soon.

 

[m_vaughan]

Zimbabwe vs England
2nd Test
ZIMSUN Test Series
Bulawayo

Welcome to the second and final test match in the Zimsun test series between Zimbabwe and England. England will be looking for a 2-0 sweep of the test series, after having won the ODIs 3-0, while Zimbabwe will be playing for pride, as well as to level the series, which if they do manage to do, will be a terrific achievement.

Conditions: Its pretty warm and sunny here at Bulawayo. Temperatures are pretty high. No chance of rain.

Pitch: Its a dry and dusty wicket, with a fair number of cracks due to the excessive heat. As a result you would expect to see the slow bowlers being used maximum on this pitch. England remember, have only one quality spinner in Gareth Batty since Giles refused to tour Zimbabwe. They might give Ian Blackwell a chance, after having a look at this wicket.

Toss: Tatenda Taibu won the toss and elected to bat first.

The Teams:
One change for Zimbabwe. Mupariwa comes in in the place of Nkala.
Surprisingly, England are fielding the same team as in the 1st test, which means they will play just one specialist spinner in Gareth Batty.