On-song Bangladesh look for encore
Match facts
Tuesday August 11, 2009Start time 09.30 (07.30 GMT)
Big Picture
After being completely outclassed by Bangladesh in the first one-dayer, Zimbabwe have to make changes, particularly in the way they counter spin, if they are to put on a more credible show on Tuesday.In the first game, on a placid track with little turn, Zimbabwe played out 98 dot balls against the Bangladesh slow bowlers, who gained rhythm and got through their overs quickly. Secondly, they need to bolster their pace attack, by including either Ed Rainsford or Tawanda Mupariwa to take the new ball instead of the part-timer Chamu Chibhabha. Some discipline from their bowlers wouldn't hurt either; Zimbabwe sent down 12 wides while Bangladesh conceded none.
Perhaps the only bright spark for the home side in Sunday's gloomy performance was the experienced Mark Vermeulen's seamless return to international cricket after more than five years. His career-best 92 ensured Zimbabwe went past 200, and he was one of the few batsmen who attempted to throw the spinners off their line by using the sweep shot.
Bangladesh's clinical effort in the first one-dayer, especially the ease with which the target was chased down, will please their coach Jamie Siddons, who has long demanded big runs from his top order. The team also showed its character in bouncing back from a heavy defeat to Zimbabwe A soon after arriving from the triumphant tour of the Caribbean.
Form guide
(last five matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe - LWWWW
Bangladesh - WWWWW
Watch out for…
Another experienced Zimbabwe player making a comeback is Brendan Taylor, their wicketkeeper and one of the key batsman. With him and Sean Williams seeming to have sorted out their problems with the board, Zimbabwe's middle order looks more substantial.Tamim Iqbal has long been acknowledged for his hitting prowess, but showed signs of his maturity on Sunday by playing second fiddle once Mohammad Ashraful got going. Curbing the big hits after the first Powerplay, he went on to collect his first half-century in nearly a year.
Team news
Zimbabwe could consider dropping one of their spinners, perhaps Graeme Cremer, and bringing in a quick bowler to take the new ball.Zimbabwe (probable) 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Mark Vermeulen, 3 Chamu Chibhabha, 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Sean Williams, 7 Charles Coventry, 8 Elton Chigumbura, 9 Prosper Utseya (capt), 10 Ray Price, 11 Tawanda Mupariwa
With each of the bowlers doing their bit, and the top four batsmen finishing off the job in a hurry, it's hard to see why Bangladesh will want to make any changes.
Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Junaid Siddique, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Raqibul Hasan, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Naeem Islam, 9 Enamul Haque jnr, 10 Syed Rasel, 11 Nazmul Hossain.
Stats & trivia
- During his unbeaten century on Sunday, Mohammad Ashraful became the first Bangladesh batsman to make 3000 ODI runs
- The difference between Junaid Siddique's Twenty20 strike-rate (159.5) and his one-day strike-rate (55.50) is 104.
- Brendan Taylor needs 51 more to reach 2000 ODI runs, and 87 to overtake Tatenda Taibu as Zimbabwe's leading run-getter among active players.
- The defeat on Sunday has caused Zimbabwe to slip to 11th position in the ICC ODI rankings, two points behind Ireland.
Quotes
"As I am no longer the captain, therefore I have got to perform with the bat if I want to keep my place in the side."
Mohammad Ashraful provides the reason for his batting revival