1st Match in VideoCon Triangular Series: Zim vs NZ [24/8/05]

[mulan]

Triangular tournament, Harare & Bulawayo

Zimbabwe outclassed in three-horse race

AFP

August 23, 2005

While most of the cricket world turns its eyes towards Trent Bridge for the fourth Test of a compelling Ashes series, a powerful India, a proven New Zealand and a topsy-turvy Zimbabwe begin a triangular one-day international series in Bulawayo and Harare. After the three countries meet each other twice, a sequence providing six matches in all, the final will be held in Harare on September 6.

Zimbabwe cannot be expected to figure in the tournament, although it is wise to avoid predicting write-offs, as their new coach Kevin Curran will be looking to make his mark during his first game in charge against New Zealand on Wednesday.

But the Kiwis are resounding favourites, having beaten Zimbabwe in both their Test matches which ended last week - one by an innings and 294 runs, the other by an innings and 46. India versus New Zealand will be a fascinating prospect, as both sides are regarded as being evenly balanced.

New Zealand are very strong in the middle order, with the captain, Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan backed up by Scott Styris, any of whom could produce fireworks. India's Virender Sehwag, one of the greatest cricket entertainers on earth, and the steadying influence of Rahul Dravid, will provide plenty of big innings in response.

The respective batsmen on each side are most likely to take centre stage because the Queens Sports Club ground, once its early morning dangers have been negotiated, offers a slowish, true pitch of even bounce that will encourage the chasing of boundaries.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have chopped up their Test squad after their poor performance against New Zealand by dispensing with Craig Wishart, Dion Ebrahim, Chris Mpofu, Graeme Cremer and Neil Ferreira. Several with some previous experience have been brought back, including Chaminorwa Chibhabha, Waddington Mwayenga, Edward Rainsford, Prosper Utseya, Charles Coventry and Vusimusi Sibanda.

This is a fragile-looking line-up, but it was forced on the selectors, obliged to choose between a group of failures against New Zealand, and previous players who never quite made it. They are, though, able to welcome back their big-hitting fast bowler Andy Blignaut, who once took apart Australia's Jason Gillespie.

Zimbabwe have beaten India eight times in ODIs, although that has been over a 22-year period, and they beat the Kiwis 2-1 when they toured here in 2000-01. But Zimbabwe have much to learn, both on and off the field, and they will not figure in the outcome as India and New Zealand take off the gloves and battle pretty much evenly for the spoils.

Squads

Zimbabwe Tatenda Taibu (capt & wk), Andy Blignaut, Heath Streak, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Keith Dabengwa, Waddington Mwayengwa, Edward Rainsford, Prosper Utseya, Blessing Mahwire, Stuart Carlisle, Hamilton Mazakadsa, Charles Coventry, Brendan Taylor, Craig Wishart, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Gavin Ewing.

India Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Venugopal Rao, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Jai Prakash Yadav.

New Zealand Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Hamish Marshall, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Chris Martin, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Andre Adams, Jeetan Patel.

© Cricinfo

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Play due to start in a couple of minutes. Damp pitch delayed start.

[mulan]

43/0 after 6 overs.

Fleming and especially Vincent going great guns here....

[Amjid Javed]

mulan, has the game been reduced to 44 overs a-side?

whats pitch and conditions like?

[mulan]

Sorry AJ...I'll only be able to watch live in an hour from now, till then I have to rely on cricinfo and supercricket...

And right now supercricket is uber slow to connect....Seems like they're still playing 50 overs though...

Hopefully if someone is watching live at the moment they can help us out with the conditions and pitch...

77/0 after 9

[mulan]

In the 14th over...101/0

Fleming 46
Vincent 51

[Dada]

New Zealand 120/0 (16)
L Vincent 64
*SP Fleming 49

[mulan]

153/0 after 21

Black Caps going at over 7 an over since the start of this game...

Zim has a mountain to climb...

[Amjid Javed]

New Zealand 214/1 (29.1) ... ong what a pasting

14.5 overs left in inns....

[alghazzali]

Vincent might make 200, while NZ can set their targets for 400! And that too in only 44 overs!!

[Rob H]

Say bye bye to your record Saeed

[in_cutter]

uh oh Anwar's record score of 194 in danger of being broken!

[Asim2Good]

41 runs required to break record in 7.5 overs

50 to reach 200

ll he get it ?

[Asim2Good]

in 7.3 overs 41 runs

NZ 312 in 36.3 overs

[Sheikh_Ji]

Someone stop Vincent.....he must not be allowed to go beyond 193 !!!!

[Asim2Good]

38 runs in 7 over required to break record

[Daoud]

Dear God, if theres any justice in the world, do not let Vincent get a double century or break the record. I could understand if a good batsman broke the record or someone did it against a half decent team. But here?

[alghazzali]

He'll get 200, there's a big chance of that.

[alghazzali]

And we thought our bowlers our bad.

[sy]

the other ones gone.

[Asim2Good]

25 Runs in 6 overs to break record

3 sixes to break most sixes in Inn

highest total is too far away

[alghazzali]

Is anyone watching? Is Vincent tiring?

[Asim2Good]

24 runs in 6.3 overs

hope Cairns face most of balls here

[Immy Ji]

Noooooooooo Don't break Saeed's records :@

[hello143]

And He's OUT .. SAEED RECORD SAFE

[Fawad]

He's Out! Yes Vincent Is Out!

[alghazzali]

His first century and mayb a double century at that too.

[alghazzali]

Cairns takes the strike, hope Cairns tries to beat sum record, so Vincent can't take strike.

[sy]

well played vincent!

[alghazzali]

YES!! He's gone!!! The record intact

[mulan]

This is totally disgusting! Vincent does not deserve to break Anwar's record!

Why did Taibu send NZ in to bat in the first place. That track is as dead as a doornail. Looks bone-dry! Blue skies and the sun is beating down. Why didn't he make first use of the track...

My stomach's churning...

[Sheikh_Ji]

39.2 Blignaut to Vincent, OUT: short ball, pulled awya to deep
midwicket, Utseya dived full length and took a lovely catch, a
great innings came to qan end!

[Daoud]

Thank God for that. Would have been a crying shame (literally)

[mulan]

Yipeee!!!!! I couldn't be happier....

He played well...man did he hit some 6's...

[Asim2Good]

Many got closer to Anwer's 194

Ganguly 188
Jaya 189
Sachin 188/187
Gilly also had chance against Zim when he got out in 41/42 over after scoring 152
now Vincent.

the way cricket been played someone will get 200 soon

[alghazzali]

NZ could still get 400, but thats not our record, so I'm not too worried.

[alghazzali]

Originally Posted by Asim2Good Many got closer to Anwer's 194 Ganguly 188 Jaya 189 Sachin 188/187 Gilly also had chance against Zim when he got out in 41/42 over after scoring 152 now Vincent. the way cricket been played someone will get 200 soon

It will, by none other than our own BEAST!!

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by Sheikh_Ji 39.2 Blignaut to Vincent, OUT: short ball, pulled awya to deep midwicket, Utseya dived full length and took a lovely catch, a great innings came to qan end!

yes... woohoo!

[Naz]

Yeah anwars innings against india, and kumble in particular deserve to be no 1 for ever!!

I really hope though that new zealand cross 400, and that to in 44 overs so the world will realize that garbage teams like zimbabwe dont deserve to be playing cricket.

[Ace Base]

The top three individual one day scores, have all been made against 'half-decent" teams.

However, to me, Viv Richards effort stands out as the most amazing as he single-handedly made almost 70% of his team's score.

For the most "stirring" effort, I have to hand it to Saeed Anwar. This was an innings of raw emotion, burning passion and I believe after the famous Miandad six, was the second most telling blow on the Indian cricket psyche.

I am also embarrassed to recall that Gary Kirtsen's best effort (188 not out)was against us....

[Asim2Good]

396/4 in 43.4 overs

have they broke highest team total record already ?

[mulan]

Thankfully the slaughter is over...

They didn't make 400 then...Their own fault, I suppose.

[Asim2Good]

Bowling O M R W
Streak 9 0 61 0 (1w)
Mahwire 7 0 78 1
Blignaut 9 0 96 2 (1nb, 2w)
Ireland 7 0 52 2 (3w)
Ewing 7 0 53 0 (1w)
Utseya 5 0 48 0 (2nb)


Pretty decent figures

[Jonty]

zimbabwe is a disgrace. India will score 400 easily because they will get 50 overs. Strip them of thier test status, because a team like pakistan or australia will score 450

[Asim2Good]

397 isn't this world record ? there is no any mention of it on crapinfo ?

[arsal_pakfan]

Originally Posted by Ace Base The top three individual one day scores, have all been made against 'half-decent" teams. However, to me, Viv Richards effort stands out as the most amazing as he single-handedly made almost 70% of his team's score. For the most "stirring" effort, I have to hand it to Saeed Anwar. This was an innings of raw emotion, burning passion and I believe after the famous Miandad six, was the second most telling blow on the Indian cricket psyche. I am also embarrassed to recall that Gary Kirtsen's best effort (188 not out)was against us....

Gary Kirsten 188 was against UAE not Pakistan!

[Rob H]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed yes... woohoo!

[Amjid Javed]

398-5 (50 overs) Sri Lanka v Kenya Kandy1995/96

is highest score ever...

[alghazzali]

Originally Posted by arsal_pakfan Gary Kirsten 188 was against UAE not Pakistan!

Ace Base is from the UAE.

[Ace Base]

Originally Posted by arsal_pakfan Gary Kirsten 188 was against UAE not Pakistan!

Yes, I know, bro.

Sorry, my mistake for inadvertently misleading you. Akhi, I am Emirati.

[mulan]

Top 10....before today

398-5 (50.0 ov) Sri Lanka v Kenya at Kandy 1995/96
391-4 (50.0 ov) England v Bangladesh at Nottingham 2005
376-2 (50.0 ov) India v New Zealand at Hyderabad (Decc) 1999/00
373-6 (50.0 ov) India v Sri Lanka at Taunton 1999
371-9 (50.0 ov) Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Nairobi (Gym) 1996/97
363-7 (55.0 ov) England v Pakistan at Nottingham 1992
363-3 (50.0 ov) South Africa v Zimbabwe at Bulawayo 2001/02
360-4 (50.0 ov) West Indies v Sri Lanka at Karachi 1987/88
359-2 (50.0 ov) Australia v India at Johannesburg 2002/03
359-5 (50.0 ov) Australia v India at Sydney 2003/04

[Amir]

I think it is rubbish for people to say the ICC to scrap "garbage" teams like Zimbabwe. They may not be the most talented, but even they have their bad days. When India hit NZ around the park, or Lanka, or when England tonked us around the park..why didn't the ICC scrap us? It is all just a matter of having a bad day and patience should be shown as these guys are always learning.

[Nauman]

Amir getting tonked is one thing but when a batsman who is not even a regular member of the team and failed miserably even against the worst of teams comes and almost breaks a world record one would have to think that there is something wrong with Zimbabwe.

[mulan]

Is 100/3 the latest score? Cricinfo has gone and stuck on me...

[alybaba]

134/6, Taibu and Streak are on.

[Waseem]

Originally Posted by Asim2Good Bowling O M R W Streak 9 0 61 0 (1w) Mahwire 7 0 78 1 Blignaut 9 0 96 2 (1nb, 2w) Ireland 7 0 52 2 (3w) Ewing 7 0 53 0 (1w) Utseya 5 0 48 0 (2nb) Pretty decent figures

Blignaut's 2/96 off 9 is probably one of the WORST in the history as well, Jayasurya went for 96 as well when he was ASSAULTED by AFRIDI.

[googly]

OMFG!!!! 397 in 44 overs!!!!!

450 was surely on the cards in a 50 over game.

But wait for the Indian team to "fight" it out with Zim.