Battle for the wooden spoon

[mikesiva]

Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe....

http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v- ... 23576.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mikesiva]

Taylor hits an unbeaten century, and Waller hits a half-century....

I wonder if Zimbabwe will beat Bangladesh in a Test series again...if they do, does that make Zimbabwe a better Test team than Bangladesh?

[Gils]

375/8 in 148 overs ! Thats 5 sessions, Wow.

Is that the same Zimbabwe WI crushed in 3 days or Bangla just put out an U21 team ?

& does it mean WI might get some retro active ranking points ?

[mikesiva]

What it probably does mean is that when Shilly was bowling at Zimbabwe, and when Narine was bowling at Bangladesh, they were bowling at teams with about equal strength, so comparing their performances against the two teams is a valid exercise....

Taylor is finally out for 171 as Zimbabwe make 389....

[Gils]

Bangladesh 134 All out as five wickets go down for no run.

Zimbabwe 2nd Inns 187/7 B Taylor 82 N O & lead by 420 plus, can Taylor go on to complete the double ?

Zim have 2 new seamers in the line up but I think Bangladesh have let themselves down, their 1st inns lasted 54 overs.

I know Bangladesh can score quickly & don't hang around long but if these 2 teams are evenly matched, how did WI lose 3-2 in the ODI's ?

[mikesiva]

Let me revise that assessment....zimbabwe is a much better test team than bangladesh.

[mikesiva]

Bangladesh out for 147, as Zimbabwe win by a mammoth 335 runs....I think Zimbabwe are definitely the better Test team now.

Spinner Cremer took four wickets for four runs!

Why couldn't Narine do that against Bangladesh?

Since Bangladesh are now in pole position for the wooden spoon in Test cricket, Shilly's bowling stats against Zimbabwe compare favourably against Narine's bowling stats against Bangladesh....

[Gils]

Done & truly dusted. I see they declared so B Taylor had to reach 3 figures.

That's a top knock regardless of opporsition, congratulations.

Was it the conditions or were Bangladesh still trying to score at a their usual pelt ?

The 49 overs suggests they gave up, maybe their not so good when it's not vs West Indies

4 Wickets for who ? I dont remember Cremer troubling any of WI Batsmen & even if he bagged a 10 fer Vs Bangladesh I'd find it hard to say I think he's better than Narine.

The next match should help provide some more usefull figures, how longs the series ?

Oh yes, I remeber Cremer now he got two tons in the WI series.

[mikesiva]

Time for the second and final Test....

Zimbabwe team
V Sibanda, RW Chakabva, H Masakadza, BRM Taylor*, MN Waller, R Mutumbami†, E Chigumbura, AG Cremer, KO Meth, KM Jarvis, SW Masakadza
Bangladesh team
Jahurul Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim*†, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Ziaur Rahman, Sajidul Islam, Robiul Islam

[mikesiva]

Bangladesh close on 300-6 at the end of the first day, thanks to half-centuries from Shakib and Mushfiq....