South Africa thrash Zimbabwe

South Africa have cruised to a 171 run win over Zimbabwe in Potchefstroom today. Batting first, they scored a huge total of 418/5, with Loots Bosman scoring 88, Alviro Petersen 80 and Jacques Kallis 50 before Mark Boucher demolished the Zimbabwean attack with 147.

Zimbabwe did actually show some improvement in their batting as they reached 247/4 from their 50 overs, with 88 from Terry Duffin and 55 from Hamilton Masakadza. They deserve credit for keeping wickets intact, and gained some much needed time in the middle.

New Zimbabwe domestic format

The Logan Cup, the first class tournament in Zimbabwean cricket has been re-formatted, after the abandonment of the tournament last season. Instead of Zimbabwe’s provinces competing for the tournament it will now be five select XIs; Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe A, Zimbabwe Board XI, Zimbabwe Development and the National Academy.

This new format is a joke. Whilst it may give more players the chance of playing first class cricket, what is the point in the tournament, as it’s essentially a series of inter-squad practise games instead of an actual competitive tournament.

Bangladesh win final ODI

Bangladesh have won the final ODI against Zimbabwe by 8 wickets. Zimbabwe batted first, and 75 from Hamilton Masakadza led them to 197, with Rajin Saleh taking 4/16 for the visitors. The Bangladesh innings was all about Shahriar Nafees, who scored a fine unbeaten 118 to secure the game for his side in the 45th over.

Zimbabwe win a series

What seemed unthinkable at the beginning of the year has now happened. Zimbabwe have won a ODI series against test playing opponents.

With one match to go, they are 3-1 up in the five match series against Bangladesh, after a 7 wicket win today.

Zimbabwe no good, even when they score 300

In a tour match yesterday against a team with the catchy name of University of West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI, Zimbabwe scored a huge 324/5. Should be an easy win for them. But their oppenents reached their target with four overs to spare!

If Zimbabwe can’t defend a total that big against a team that is basically the West Indies third XI, then what hope would they have defending a total of say 250 against the senior West Indies side, or any other international side for that matter? What hope do they have of defending similar totals against Bermuda and Canada in the tri-series that concludes this tour?

It’s amazing to think that in a tri-series involving an ICC full member and two associates, we could well see the two associates contest the final.

Scorecard Link

West Indies turn the floodlights on

The first ever floodlit game in the West Indies was played yesterday at St Lucia.

West Indies A beat England A by 118 runs in the encounter, which leaves Zimbabwe as the only test nation yet to host day/night cricket.

Zimbabwe will be the first team to play a full ODI under lights in the Carribean, when they play in St Lucia next month.

Interview with Clive Field

via Cricinfo

Clive Field, who was the former chief executive of the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers’ Association until last month has a pretty in-depth interview over at cricinfo.

Definitely worth a read.

Tikolo confident

via Kenya Cricket

Steve Tikolo is confident about the forthcoming tour to Zimbabwe, which features 5 ODIs.

They’ve every right to be. They thrashed Zimbabwe A late last year, but that A side was actually the full test side, featuring Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu.

Those players have now left, and with an inexperienced captain at the helm, Zimbabwe are set to struggle.

Zimbabwe captain never played an ODI

From Cricinfo

Zimbabwe have appointed a captain who has never played an ODI. Coach Kevin Curran sees no problem with this, but the fact that they are having to appoint such an inexperienced player as captain just shows how many players have quit in recent years.

There may be other problems too, especially as Duffin is white.

The move to appoint Duffin as captain is said to have angered some black players who feel that Zimbabwe Cricket used them, claiming that they had been promised the post following the resignation of Tatenda Taibu. One of these players who is understood to unhappy is medium-pace bowler Blessing Mahwire, who has 10 Test and seven one-day appearances to his name.

Sad to see that the racism that has already infected the board is now spreading to the players.