Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe 2013

[CremerCurrans]

Certainly interestingly poised at effectively 185/4, and the return of Vitori helped add some bite to the bowling. I think if they can find a decent spinner to support Jarvis and Vitori then they just need more steel from the batting and they can become a half-decent side - it might even tempt some of the batsmen who've "retired" back.

I was curious why Zimbabwe seemed to be employing nightwatchman after nightwatchman, I gather Sibanda is not fit to bat but am surprised they promoted Utseya. And the nightwatchman proper got what the role deserves, a prompt sending on its way.

If Zimbabwe can muster another 100+ runs then Pakistan will be in a fight, I reckon it will be close with Pakistan no great shakes as a side and quite a long tail.

Not sure what Utseya offers the side to be honest, a handy batting average of 15.29 that doesn't compensate any failings in the top order, a bowling average of 0.29 under FIFTY and his ODI record is very similar (17.36 & 47.76)

Is Cremer not available? Is there noone better? Frankly if that's the pick of the spinners I'd play four seamers and play a spinner only when conditions require, or use a part-timer to fill in necessary overs

Cremer was waiting to be paid before making himself available. It sounds like all the team have now been paid, so hopefully Cremer has received his. We have Mushangwe & Mutombodzi, but they must of decided to go with the experience of Utseya. He did alright in the first test, but as you said has added little this one.

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I think Sibanda is sick, that's why Utseya opened.

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We have a great opportunity to win this, just need to score as much as possible, Then bowl them out on a deteriorating pitch.

Vitori is really improving, not just dominating Bangladesh.

 

[Sulaiman7]

I think Sibanda is sick, that's why Utseya opened.

Yep , something wrong happened with his stomach.

 

[cricket_icon]

Damn, Pakistan are making a meal of this aren't they? There's not even the excuse they aren't playing a strong team, that's pretty much their first 11 in Zimbabwe right now.

The batting is so weak they've made Zimbs bowlers look like giants of the game. It's ridiculous. I actually favour Zimbabwe on the final day.

 

[Sulaiman7]

Damn, Pakistan are making a meal of this aren't they? There's not even the excuse they aren't playing a strong team, that's pretty much their first 11 in Zimbabwe right now.

The batting is so weak they've made Zimbs bowlers look like giants of the game. It's ridiculous. I actually favour Zimbabwe on the final day.

Yep , many of our batsmen played irresponsibly there like Hafeez , Azhar & Shafiq. Zimbabwe did a very though fight but especially I am impressed by Taylor's captaincy.

 

[Owzat]

105 runs to score with five wickets in hand, interesting. Zimbabwe couldn't manage to force a more demanding target, but it may prove a lot closer than Pakistan would have hoped - maybe even end in a Zimbabwe win.

A lot rests with the current pair, thereafter it's Rehman, Ajmal, Khan and Ali and they managed 11 runs between them 1st innings as the last four wickets added just 18 runs.

Will be a good feather in the cap of Zimbabwe if they can win, while Pakistan may not be a top side right now, they're still a decent one. Says it all that Zimbabwe can be in turmoil, come back after an absence and still show more fight than Bangladesh.................

 

[Owzat]

217/8, Pakistan must look to Misbah (58no) to try and get them the 47 runs needed to win. Surely the zimmers are favourites from here?

Junaid Khan has a Test best of 17 and averages 7.11, with a fair bit of help from 4 not outs (about five runs per innings scored)

Rahat Ali does boast an average of 30.50, but with only 61 runs scored and five not outs out of seven innings, that again is slightly inflated from what would otherwise be nine runs per innings. He does have a Test best of 35no scored against the zimmers, and a 22 against South Africa up against an attack of Kleinveldt, Philander, Steyn and Abbott (bowling average 7.56 after one Test)

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btw Who needs absolute roads and runs galore, this match is a classic with no side scoring 300+ and both sides in it at the death.

 

[Ohm]

I was expecting that Pakistan will win again, but wondered by the result. An awesome win for Zimbabwe. Well played Zimbabwe.

 

[Aalay]

That was brilliant from Zimbabwe. I expected Pakistan to win because Misbah was there but I guess he had no support from the other hand. However, all credit to Zimbabwe bowlers for maintaining pressure on Pakistan throughout the series.

 

[Sulaiman7]

Well played Zimbabwe.

 

[cricket_icon]

Zimbabwe put on a show! Damn, this just goes to show that Test cricket can be full of surprises too. I'd like to see Zimbabwe play the top teams more often, they've beaten one of the leading test sides on the planet and drawn the series. That's no small feat.

 

[Owzat]

Not sure Pakistan are a "leading" anything, they are good on their day but still a good scalp for Zimbabwe.

Once a side puts a 350+ score on the board Zimbabwe will struggle, their batting and bowling is still way short of the top sides and they need the scores to be low to win as their top order batting doesn't often put 250+ runs on the board.

I can't see that many top sides scoring under 250 in both innings against their bowling, and again the Zimbabwe top order (1-7) put on 186 and 174 (batting our of order) in this match, should not win many matches.

I hope they do recover, they were a good side in the late 90s and had some decent players before they were destroyed and then went into exile.

Back to Pakistan, since the controversy filled 0-2 tour defeat in England their record in Test series has been P20 W6 D6 L8 (Won 30.00%), but also split their record against the top sides doesn't contain an overwhelming number of wins :

vs ENG/AUS/IND/SAF/SRL : P13 W2 D3 L8 (Won 15.38%)
vs NZE/ZIM/WIN/BAN : P7 W4 D3 L0 (Won 57.14%)

One series win over England in UAE was just to be expected given the conditions, the win over Sri Lanka was 1-0 in UAE, Sri Lanka bowled out for 239 & 257 despite 78 & 30 from Sangakkara, 19 & 52 from Matthews and a few other decent scores - there were six single figure scores in each innings.

Six series wins, three of which were against pretty ordinary or weaker sides, is not impressive. I may just do a "Test Championship" thread, for current form although I won't go that far back

 

[Umair7]

Hafeez is ---- so is Asad

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Good to see Zimbabwe win. I wish to see them win more and gain the respect they had once when they were lead by Mr. Heath Streak.

 

[Cricketpredict]

I am supporting Zimbabwe. They have got good bunch of talents like chigumbura and other. These guys need spotlight..they deserve that..

 

[Sulaiman7]

Chigumbura has been concentrating on batting and has proved that he can be a brilliant batter for Zimbabwe.