MAKONI IMPRESSED BY THE 2ND GAME BUT SEES CHANGES IN THE 3RD ODI

National team convener of selectors Givemore Makoni expressed disappointment at the team him and his selection team chose to do battle for the country in Grenada in the first One Day International in their on going tour of that country.

Makoni says he would have expected a better performance in the first game particularly from the batting department. Zimbabwe lost the game by 156 runs and improved on the second, loosing by seven wickets.

Makoni commented on the second game saying he expected better from the batsmen. "It was a flat wicket, I would have expected a lot from the top order senior batsmen. They didn't show how senior they are considering it was a flat track what l would term a batsmen's paradise. But the whole game was a no show from our boys, they didn't apply themselves accordingly" he said in an interview with OFF THE CREASE.

He continued to say he was happy with the improvement in the second ODI from both the bowling and batting department. "We played well in the second match, in fact we were very competitive as you saw we went to the wire. Victory was very, very close for us but again had we put about 20 more runs on the board" he added.

Makoni also bemoaned lack consistency from some top order batsmen. "Look at all these forties and fifties, no one is converting them to bigger scores. In that light I am convinced without a doubt that we have a chance to win as soon as these senior guys lead from the front" said Makoni.

Responding to a question on whether Zimbabwe has the capabilities of beating the West Indies, Makoni said he was very confident on his charges. "Oh yes we have a chance of beating the West Indies and l can safely say we have a side that can beat them in their own backyard. Look at Sunday's game we were just 4 runs shot of making it as winners" said an upbeat Makoni.

"We will have changes in the third ODI definitely but we will have to meet as a management team
 then we can see if our game plan goes with the resources that haven't played yet" he concluded.

WEST INDIES GO TWO UP

Don't go by the seven-wicket victory margin. Don't go by the one over left unneeded in West Indies' innings. This was a chase in which the pressure built, and was allowed to be built, gradually during a century opening partnership. Then came two wickets in three deliveries. More pressure. Then came the batting Powerplay. And Ramnaresh Sarwan bolted away finally, to his fifth ODI century, his highest ODI score and his first substantial knock after his comeback. Any remaining pressure was blasted away by Kieron Pollard. West Indies had the series, but Zimbabwe were worthy competitors following their surrender in the opening game. 
 

They made their highest away total against West Indies and created chances in the field but lacked penetration in their attack. They were also robbed of Sarwan's wicket when he was on 53. He was caught several inches short by a direct hit but umpire Peter Nero, instead of referring it to the third umpire, immediately shook his head when Zimbabwe appealed. West Indies needed 151 from 20 overs at that stage, and who knows what the wicket of a well-set Sarwan could have led to. 

It was the lone, albeit significant, blemish for Sarwan in an innings where he exploited the batting Powerplay to race from a slow half-century to a breezy hundred. Sarwan and Kieran Powell had put on 111 at the top, but hadn't attempted to dominate Zimbabwe, who squandered an early opportunity. In the fourth over, the debutant medium-pacer Tendai Chatara had Powell pushing uppishly for Vusi Sibanda to pull off a one-handed stunner at short extra cover. Replays, however, showed Chatara had overstepped. 

Sarwan began in a blaze of boundaries, cutting, driving and pulling for fours but started finding the field far too often. Powell was a touch more aggressive but wasn't far behind in hitting seemingly innocuous deliveries to the infield. However, there was hardly any bite in the Zimbabwe attack to tie them down for a prolonged stretch. 

It was Powell who threw away another promising start, heaving at a Hamilton Masakadza delivery and edging it behind to depart for 57 off 81. Two balls later, Masakadza moved one away slightly to take Darren Bravo's outside edge into the wicketkeeper's gloves. The asking-rate was now approaching seven, and West Indies' at times diffident start could have cost them. 

Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine managed just a boundary each till the onset of the batting Powerplay, by when the asking-rate was within touching distance of eight. Sarwan was on 68 off 103, having gone 80 deliveries without hitting a boundary during the middle overs.

In the 37th over, he slammed Kyle Jarvis through cover and point for fours. In the 38th, he lifted Chatara down the ground and over extra cover for successive boundaries. In the 40th, he hit Jarvis for a one-handed straight six, and off the next ball, reached his century. He had taken 32 off his last 15 deliveries, and West Indies had taken 46 off the batting Powerplay. Zimbabwe, tied down by Sunil Narine, had managed 22 off theirs. 

Deonarine played an important knock of 42 off 49, turning the strike over repeatedly, but when he was run out by a direct hit, West Indies still needed 55 off 40. Enter Pollard. Exit Zimbabwe. Pollard rained fours and sixes, his power punishing anything too full or too short. He needed just 20 deliveries to race to 41, with Sarwan fittingly hitting the winning single. 

Zimbabwe will no doubt be gutted with the Sarwan run-out that wasn't given, especially after their batting effort. They had conceded 337 and were reduced to 34 for 4 on Friday in their first international game in five months, but two days later, three of the top five made fifties.

Like in the first match, Craig Ervine was at the forefront of a recovery and, unlike in the first match, he ensured he carried on long enough to make a significant difference. Had Dwayne Bravo not struck at crucial moments on his way to a career-best 6 for 43, his side would have had a chase much closer to 300 on their hands. 

In his first over, he removed the in-form Vusi Sibanda and the captain Brendan Taylor in the space of three deliveries to convert a solid 76 for 1 into a shaky 76 for 3. Sibanda had vindicated his captain's decision to bat and had looked in little trouble as he drove, cut, pulled and swept his way to a breezy fifty. 

Ervine and Masakadza responded with a 110-run fourth-wicket partnership. Ervine paddled Dwayne Bravo and swept Narine for fours. Masakadza, nowhere close to Ervine in fluency, soldiered on at the other end, heaving Pollard and Andre Russell for a six each.

Following an unproductive batting Powerplay, Masakadza had another heave and the top-edge landed in the hands of a running Narine at third man. Zimbabwe were 194 for 4 after 42 overs, and needed someone to kickstart the final charge. 

Malcolm Waller provided that boost in a cameo that altered the momentum of the innings. In an eventful 43rd over from Kemar Roach, Waller pulled and drove for a six and a four before being yorked. Roach was dumbfounded when no-ball was signalled, and it turned out that Tino Best's carelessness had made it one man too many outside the inner circle. Roach went harder for another yorker next ball, and Waller flicked the resultant full toss off his pads over short fine leg for six more. Zimbabwe managed 79 off the final eight overs, but West Indies won both the batting Powerplays, and they had Pollard for later.

ZIM FALL IN FIRST ODI

Zimbabwe won the toss, and West Indies everything following that, inflicting their heaviest defeat on the visitors in the first of three ODIs. They bludgeoned their way to a huge total after being asked to bat and then derailed the chase soon after it began.

Johnson Charles led the assault with a superbly paced hundred that came on the back of his maiden century in Melbourne against Australia. West Indies had lost all five ODIs on that tour, but settled in at home against a friendly Zimbabwe attack. Kieran Powell did the early running in a mammoth opening stand with Charles and Darren Bravo rounded off a hopeless outing for Zimbabwe with serious big-hitting towards the end that gave him his maiden ODI century. 

Charles and Powell weren't tested much and received numerous loose deliveries in a century opening partnership - the first for West Indies in ODIs since May 2011 - that came at a healthy rate. Fast bowler Kyle Jarvis and legspinner Natsai Mushangwe, playing only his second ODI, were the only Zimbabwe bowlers who bothered West Indies to an extent. Jarvis began promisingly, his accuracy and slight movement in the air and off the pitch forcing the openers to be cautious. But Zimbabwe leaked runs consistently from the other end, and also conceded several boundaries through misfields in the deep. 

Prosper Utseya opened with the second new ball and was hit out of the attack by Powell, who stepped out and lofted him over extra cover and straight down the ground. Mpofu replaced Utseya, and got the same treatment, as Powell lashed him through the off side for two fours in his opening over. Mpofu might have gone for more than the 20 runs he did from his first two overs but the outfield, heavy from overnight rain, ended up saving a few boundaries for Zimbabwe.

Brendan Taylor was forced to use his part-time bowlers early, although the legspinner Mushangwe did get some turn and bounce. The part-timers were bound to go for runs at some stage on the sedate pitch. Charles, dropped on 37 off a difficult, diving chance by Vusi Sibanda at midwicket off Utseya, cashed in against Hamilton Masakadza and Malcolm Waller. Cutting and sweeping for fours, he nudged past Powell's score.

Powell gave it away in the 29th over, top-edging a pull off a Mpofu half-tracker to deep square leg but Charles showed no signs of slowing down, heaving fours and sixes regularly. Darren Bravo arrived and played himself in for the batting Powerplay, which was to fetch 59 runs.

Taylor began the Powerplay with Mushangwe who was taken for a six each by Charles and Darren Bravo. Even as Darren Bravo continued to flay wide deliveries through the covers, Taylor turned to Jarvis who had Charles lbw on 117 with his second delivery, only for the decision to be overturned on review, with replays showing the ball headed down leg. Charles responded with more punishment for Mpofu before the seamer got a yorker right in the 39th over. Charles departed for 130 off 111 having converted a steady start into a sustained onslaught.

Darren Bravo was on 33 off 35 at this stage, and despite failures for the promoted Andre Russell and the stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo, he ensured West Indies did not slow down. Jarvis and Mpofu were taken apart with powerful straight hits as he went after everything, full, short, or good length.

Darren Bravo entered the last over on 92. He clubbed Jarvis to the deep midwicket rope to move to 99 off the penultimate ball and paddled the last, a slow bouncer, for a single to reach his hundred off just 71 deliveries, in his 48th ODI innings.

West Indies halted on 337, and Zimbabwe had shown on the field they were playing their first international game since the World Twenty20 last year. To expect a markedly improved performance with the bat would have been too much. Sunil Narine needed three deliveries to strike, and either side of his brace, Kemar Roach and Tino Best picked up a wicket each to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 34 for 4.

Sibanda, who had made 147 in the warm-up match, began promisingly as he pulled Roach for a couple of boundaries, but was given out leg-before to Roach in the fifth over. Replays showed the ball was missing leg stump, but Sibanda chose not to refer the decision.

In the next over, Chamu Chibhabha inside-edged a Narine offspinner off his pad to short leg and walked. Hamilton Masakadza mishit a pull off a Narine straighter one for Roach to pull off a running, diving stunner of a catch at long-on. Taylor lofted a drive off Best straight to mid-off.

Craig Ervine halted the frenetic slide with an innings that contained some crisp sweeps and reverse-sweeps. With Malcolm Waller blocking out one end, Zimbabwe were steady for a while but the asking-rate continued to shoot up.

As the partnership went past 50, Andre Russell was brought on, and in his first over, had Ervine spooning a drive to short extra cover to depart for 41. At 92 for 5, Zimbabwe's chief concern now would have been to lessen the severity of what looked set to be a crushing defeat.

Waller played his part in doing so, playing some stinging cover drives to make a fifty. Zimbabwe had the scant consolation of batting out 50 overs as No. 8 Utseya stonewalled his way to 18 off 67.

SIBANDA SHINES IN WARM UP AS TAYLOR WORKS HARDER

Vusi Sibanda scored 147 runs as Zimbabweans beat University of West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI by 76 runs in a tour game in St Andrews, Grenada on yesterday. Zimbabwe are in the West Indies for a moth long tour that has five ODIs, two Twenty 20 and two Test matches scheduled to begin this Friday. Sibanda’s century was comprised of 13 fours and two sixes and lasted 114 balls.

The Zimbabwean innings was dominated by two, hundred-run partnerships between top order batsmen Tino Mawoyo and Sibanda and, later, Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza.

Masakadza shed some some bad form to score an aggressive 56 off 42 balls, including six fours and two sixes. Sibanda eventually retired hurt for 147, but his knock had given the side a platform for a big score. A late flourish from Regis Chakabva, who struck 41 off just 20 balls, took Zimbabweans to 346.

The hosts were off to a dismal start, losing both their openers to Kyle Jarvis' pace with just six runs on the board. Wicketkeeper Shai Hope and Ramnaresh Sarwan then steadied the innings with a partnership worth 75 runs.

Sarwan remained steady after Hope's dismissal, as his 90 runs off 72 balls went some way to helping him regain form ahead of the ODI series. He added 104 runs with Chaim Holder, and the University XI would have fancied their chances.

However, once Sarwan was out, the hosts began to flounder. A 54-run, tenth wicket partnership between Dawayne Sealy and Michael Bedward pushed the University XI's total past 250, but the Zimbabweans were able to dismiss the team for 270.

MEANWHILE team manager and media liaison for the Zimbabwe team told OFF THE CREASE in an interview that the team had arrived safely and were now looking ahead to the first ODI. “We arrived well and everyone is ok. The team played well as the coaches had wanted them to get some time out in the middle. Beating the chancellors’ XI was a boast to the team and l must say Sibanda played exceptionally well. We are now awaiting and looking forward to the official kick start of the tour tomorrow” he said.

Brendon Taylor who arrived on Wednesday in Grenada is said to be well and getting fit as he had an extra session with assistant coach Steve Mangongo. “Taylor arrived yesterday morning (Wednesday) and he is fit and ready for the games, he arrived early for training today (Thursday) for an extra session with Steve. Ican confirm that he is fit and well” Banda added.

Zimbabwe plays tomorrow against the West Indies in Grenada in the first match of the five game Digicel One Day International Series.

 

 

CHIGUMBURA SHINES AS SYLHET CRUSH OUT

DHAKA, Former Zimbabwe captain and allrounder Elton Chigumbura’s 42 runs off 25 deliveries went in vain as his Sylhet Royals lost by five wickets to crush out of the Bangladesh Premier League in the semi final played in Dhaka on Monday. The Chittagong Kings who were playing without captain Brendan Taylor stormed into the final were they face the Dhaka Gladiators, whom they have beaten once before in the competition.

Boundaries from two allrounders Ryan ten Doeschate and Ariful Haque at the end of the 15th over with Chittagong still requiring 52 runs off the last 30 balls with five wickets in hand. After taking stock of the situation in a single over, the Netherlands batsman went after the Afghanistan offspinner Mohammad Nabi, taking him for 16 runs in an over with a six and a four. In the following over, Ariful joined in the fun by going after Elton Chigumbura, with 21 coming off the 18th over to ease the equation considerably.

Ariful was later bowled by Nazmul Hossain's slower delivery in the penultimate over before ten Doeschate finished it off with a slashed boundary off Sajidul Islam in the last over. He made an unbeaten 44 off 28 balls with the help of four boundaries and a single six off Nabi.

Chittagong's top-order misery, however, put them in the spot early in the chase. Chittagong hadn't successfully chased more than 136 in the tournament so it was a similar scene when Jason Roy, bowled by Sohag Gazi, and Ravi Bopara were dismissed in the first two overs. Bopara's woeful BPL campaign continued as he was out first ball to the mildly threatening Chigumbura.

Nurul Hasan and Naeem Islam added 56 for the third wicket before the former was brilliantly caught by Suhrawadi Shuvo at deep square-leg off Nabi.

Earlier, Sylhet were struck early by Enamul Haque jnr who kept them down to 51 for 3 in the first ten overs. The left-arm spinner took two for three in his first two overs. He finished with 2 for 24 from four overs, apart from Kevon Cooper's two wickets.

Sylhet were propped up by a 48-run fifth wicket stand between the captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Chigumbura in just 23 balls before a final flurry from the Zimbabwean allrounder, taking 20 off Cooper's last over, helped them to a competitive total.

Chigumbura made an unbeaten 42 off 25 balls with three fours and three sixes - two over midwicket and one over long-on - but it was still not enough to challenge a Chittagong side that managed to jump over the line at the most crucial moment.

 

TAYLOR FIT, OPENS UP ON BPL, ZIM CRICKET AND CARIBBEAN TOUR

The Bangladesh Premier League hits the home stretch as the Twenty 20 showcase gets ready for the finals. Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor who turned out for the Chittagong Kings says he enjoyed being part of the tournament and believes he learnt a lot while he was in the Asian country.

Speaking in an interview with OFF THE CREASE, Taylor said he is pleased to have been  a part of the BPL. “It was a great tournament and a very competitive one. I am very pleased to have been in a great team like the Kings and l am very pleased with my individual performance” he said.

Taylor left Zimbabwe as just an ordinary player who was to fight for a first eleven jersey but he ended up captaining the Kings. He explained the reason why he ended up leading the team, “There were complications in the beginning with our structure, then there was a major shake-up meeting in management and they resolved to give me the captaincy. I am pretty sure the results speak for themselves, we had a great team and so we started winning.  l was very happy on the role l was given that is to lead the team, it was a great opportunity for me to learn and use what l have gained from being a captain of the national team” he added.

Taylor’s appointment as Kings captain came after Mahmudullah Riyad , was believed not to have been enjoying the role.The Kings have in their books Top cricketers like England all rounder Ravi Bopara, New Zealand's Jacob Oram and Australian fast bowler  Shaun Tait. This only widened Taylor's horizon as a captain and gave him the necessary on the field training as to what is expected of him when pressure times call.

He spoke about how it felt to be in charge of all those ‘big egos’ in the Kings changing room. “It was an honour and great privilege to captain those guys, they were very, very supportive so it made my job easier’ he said.

Taylor responded on the illness that prevented him from travelling with the rest of the team to the West Indies. “About six or seven days ago l got a viral infection due to high temperatures in the Bangladesh” he said. Initially in the media, there had been reports that Taylor was suffering from Malaria but he put the record straight saying it was because of the high temperatures and he went on to comment on the progress of his recovery. “The worst is over, l am fine now and l am waiting for the fitness test then fly off to the West Indies on Tuesday afternoon, so l can spend time with the guys” he added.

Taylor will captain all the formats of the game were Zimbabwe start their campaign in the five ODI series on Friday in Greneda. The team will be comprised of the usual top order batsmen, Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, senior bowler Chris Mpofu together with Kyle Jarvis and debutants Tendai Chatara, Tino Mutombodzi and Natsai Mushangwe. “Well unfortunately l haven’t spent much time with the team but l am very confident with the team that left for the West Indies. I think it’s got a good balance of experience and rookies. It’s going to be an uphill task, l know the guys have prepared well and it is up to us to go out there and prove our worth as a team” said Taylor.

OFF THE CREASE asked Taylor on his decision to express his dissatisfaction on a social platform facebook about ZC’s dropping of Bowling and Batting coaches Heath Streak and Grant Flower respectively. “Well l put up a statement to apologise to the ZC on the way l went about it. It could have been done in a better way, considering the fact that l was there in the meeting. But l have cleared that with the board and l had a chat with the Managing Director (Wilfred Mukondiwa) on the issue. It is certainly water under the bridge and we are now looking forward to the tour. We have decided to move forward as we now know where we stand on that matter” he said.

TAYLOR DOWN WITH ILLNESS, ZIM ARRIVE IN GRENEDA

The Zimbabwe natioanal team which left the country on Saturday afternoon has arrived in Grenada. They are in Grenada where they will start they trainning session late today as they prepare for the month long tour which kicks off with a match against the West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI on Wednesday.
 
Captain Brendan Taylor failed to travel with the rest of the team after he returned  home from Bangladesh with a suspected case of Malaria. He is believed to have gone for blood tests and will only make the trip if he recovers of which he will also have to pass a fitness test. He has not been replaced as yet in the squad, while Hamilton Masakadza who was also in the BPL made the trip after passing the required fitness test conducted by the technical team..

MEANWHILE, Regular captain Darren Sammy and key batsman Chris Gayle have been rested by West Indies for the first two ODIs of their three-match home series against Zimbabwe. Allrounder Dwayne Bravo will lead the team in the matches, which are scheduled for February 22 and 24 in St George's.

Gayle, a WICB release said, had asked to skip the games, while it was decided that Sammy needed a break after playing in every match for West Indies over the past two years. The selectors are yet to name a vice-captain.

 

Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, who travelled with West Indies to Australia for their just-concluded limited-overs series missed out, making way for Denesh Ramdin to return. Ramdin's last ODI for West Indies was against New Zealand in July 2012, though he played the World Twenty20 and the Test series against Bangladesh that followed. Fast bowler Jason Holder was also left out, with the selectors going in for the extra spinner in left-armer Veerasammy Permaul who had a fine first-class game for Guyana against Leeward Islands last week, taking a match haul of 9 for 115.

 

Devon Thomas had a poor series in Australia with the bat, totaling 48 in five ODIs. Holder had played only two of those games, claiming the wicket of Aaron Finch in both matches.

Veteran batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, who made a comeback on the Australian tour after a contentious 18-month absence from the team, retained his spot despite getting two ducks in three ODIs in Australia.

Marlon Samuels, meanwhile, is still sidelined, currently recovering from the facial injury that he suffered at the Big Bash League after being struck in the face while facing Lasith Malinga.

Following the ODI series, West Indies also host Zimbabwe in two Twenty20s and two Tests.

TAYLOR MISSED AT THE BPL AS COVENTRY GAINS MOMENTUM

Brendan Taylor’s absence in Chittagong Kings’ knock out game against Duronto Rajshahi will be a blow to the Kings as the Zimbabwean had captained them through a turnaround and scored an important 357 runs in eleven matches.

The Kings have announced that although Taylor will not be available for the Kings, New Zealander Jacob Oram is back and Naeem Islam is also fit to play after stepping on a ball during their second last game. Chittagong Kings' coach Khaled Mahmud admitted that he will miss the services of his captain in their next encounter. "We will definitely miss Brendan Taylor. He was not just the team's best batsman but also someone who managed the team very well. “ He said.

“We are glad to have Jacob Oram and Naeem Islam back in the team, it is really a boost for us but we could have done with a bit of Taylor up the order” he added.

On the other, Rajshahi's top order will need to play to the best of their ability. Zimbabwean pinch hitter Charles Coventry, Simon Katich, Dilshan Munaweera and the captain Chamara Kapugedera will be expected to come good, because often Jahurul Islam has had to resurrect a chase after a top-order collapse. Islam is the standout performer for Rajshahi in the tournament, and the team's highest scorer despite batting lower down the order. His strike-rate of 127 is also remarkable because aggression isn't his strength.

Matabeleland wicketkeeper batsman Coventry said in an Interview with OFF THE CREASE that the tournament has come to an interesting stage and he is looking forward to the match. “We have worked hard so far and we are definitely in the running for the next stage of the tournament, l am looking forward to the action against the Kings. Too bad BT won’t be there to play for them but it would have been nice to play while he was here” he said.

“The tournament has taught us a lot and for me personally it’s been so refreshing and very educational because l have learnt quite a number of things as far as my game is concerned” he added

Allrounder Mukhtar Ali and left-arm spinners Monir Hossain and Naeem Islam jnr have done well, but the Bangladeshi media says this will be the biggest game of their careers.

Chittagong Kings have had their ups and downs in the tournament having registered three wins and two loses in the last five head to head encounters. The spotlight will definitely been on Netherlands opener Ryan ten Doeschate who has had a fruitful debut BPL so far. He has a high score of 95 not out and two other fifties. He has also hit 17 sixes, so a lot will depend on him for the Kings to progress. He also has to score 37 runs to overtake Shahriar Nafees, Brad Hodge and Shamsur Rahman, to become the tournament's highest run-getter

The winner of this match will have to play another knockout contest to reach the final.

STRANG QUITS AUCKLAND, THINKING OF ZIM

Former Zimbabwe national team leg spinner Paul Strang has announced that he will step down as the coach of Auckland a New Zealand domestic side at the end of the season. He had been in charge of the team for four-years.

Strang, says he had been contemplating his future as a coach from the start of the ongoing season, cited the need for a new approach for the team as a reason for his decision. "The team has moved forward quite a bit in four years and now is really a good opportunity to get a new voice and new way of doing things," he said.

 

Strang also says he is yet to see what he will do next but was quick to say he would keep his options open."I cant say much to you at the moment, l am still thinking about this but l want to do stuff with in or even outside of cricket, who knows?' he said in a short interview with OFF THE CREASE.

"I cant talk about Zimbabwe at the moment am still in the processes of sorting out a few things in my life. But it would an interesting challenge to come back home and coach the country" he added.

If the development had come a few weeks ago it would have presented the Zimbabwe Cricket with yet another option of a genuinely great individual to lead the country.

 

After working as the coach of Auckland A, Strang was appointed the coach of Auckland in February 2009. He has led his team to two domestic Twenty20 titles, and one one-day title. Strang will be Auckland's assistant coach for the upcoming Ford Trophy, the domestic 50-overs competition, for which former New Zealand opener Matt Horne will assume his new position as the coach.

 

 

Strang is one of the former cricketers that had a brilliant work ethic on and off the field, this proven by his success in New Zealand. l remember him as a fine allrounder, combining top-class legspin, as for his batting l cant say much save for that he was a useful lower order batter, and quite a brilliant fielder.

Strang was one of the best fielders in an outstanding fielding side, often seen in the covers or backward point area. He was at his best as a batsman when the pressure was on and runs were needed urgently, as he proved while scoring his only Test century , against Pakistan at Sheikhapura in 1996-97 .

 

HOWEVER, his greatest qualities are his fighting spirit and his unselfish approach to life in general. His match double of a century and five wickets in a Test innings was a major career highlight, and he took great pleasure in his 87-run partnership with his brother Bryan. Strang's figures of 8 for 109 against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2000-01 were at the time the best ever recorded for Zimbabwe in Test cricket, but his international career was cut short by a chronic muscular injury in his bowling hand.

 

After that he immidiatley moved and spent two seasons in England, playing for Kent and Nottinghamshire, gaining much valuable experience, and latterly moved to New Zealand where he was engaged to Auckland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIGUMBURA's SYLHET ROYALS WINS

Elton Chigumbura's Sylhet Royals bounced back, as they crushed Khulna Royal Bengals by 61 runs. Their openers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Paul Stirling helped lay the foundation for the big victory with a 134-run stand.

They scored 66 each, striking 19 fours and three sixes between them, to lead Sylhet to 196 for 3 in their 20 overs. Chanderpaul used the crease expertly during his innings, and even employed the switch-hit a number of times with mixed results. He had more success with the sweeps, which he played between square leg and the wicketkeeper. Stirling drove belligerently for most of his innings, thriving on the strike he was fed by Chanderpaul.

After the openers fell and the Royals needed a final flourish, Nazmul Hossain Milon played his best innings of the tournament. He hit five sixes in an unbeaten 14-ball 36 that took the Royals' total close to the 200-mark. He struck five sixes, and was much more aggressive than Elton Chigumbura, with whom he shared an unbroken 52-run stand.

Royal Bengals couldn't make amends with the bat. Mithun Ali and Riki Wessels added 84 runs for the fifth wicket, after their top order was dismissed cheaply, to reduce the margin of defeat. Mithun scored 60 off 47 balls, his first major contribution in this year's competition.

This was Sylhet's eighth win in the tournament, but they remained in second position behind Dhaka Gladiators, while Khulna end their campaign with nine losses out of 12 games.

DABENGWA SECURES CONTRACT IN SCOTLAND

A Scottish cricket club called Ferguslie has signed Matabeleland Tuskers and national team hopeful all rounder Keith Dabengwa.

Dabz as he is known in the cricket circles is an experienced left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, who has represented Zimbabwe in 48 matches between 2005 and 2010. He has to date, played 240 domestic matches across all three formats.

 

Speaking to OFF THE CREASE in an interview Dabz says he is looking at sharpening his skills in Scotland. "I am going there to work on a few areas of my cricket, l love challenges and definately this will be yet another chance for me to improve my game" he said

 

The 32-year-old, who is heavily involved with coaching in Zimbabwe cricket, has previously enjoyed one (albeit brief) season's league cricket abroad. A favourite of former national team coach Walter Chawaguta, Dabengwa had some flashes of brilliance during his days with the national team he however seems to have fallen out of favour with the Givemore Makoni led selection panel.

 

On the issue of him missing in action for his country in the recent past Dabengwa was quick to say he has areas he still needs to work on as an allrounder.

"I am not worried that much about being in the national team, l know l will bounce back. l need to work on a few areas of my cricket hence the move to Scotland during the off season" he added

 

In 2006, Dabengwa played for Hampshire club Lymington in the Southern Electric Premier league, before heading to the West Indies on national duty mid-season.

The all-rounder will join Ferguslie for their Cricket Scotland League Western First Division campaign in April.

 

He will follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman and CricX stable-mate Malcolm Waller who played a brief stint for the club last summer

INDIAN BOOKIE ACCOSTED AT THE BPL

Mirpur

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has barred an Indian national from entering any stadiums in the country after he admitted to being a bookie.

A resident of Hyderabad, Durga Prasad was seized by security staff while seated in the international gallery of the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur during the BPL matches on Monday evening. "We accosted Mr Durga Prasad inside the stadium," BCB's head of security, Col (retd) Mesbahuddin Serniabat, told ESPNcricinfo.

 

"We followed him and found that he was sending a lot of text messages. After speaking to him, we found out that he is a Hyderabad resident who had come to Bangladesh on February 2."

Serniabat said Prasad had later "admitted that he is a bookie. He earns money from betting. We have banned him from the Shere Bangla National Stadium because betting is illegal in the country."

Prasad he said had given an undertaking to not enter any stadiums in Bangladesh.

 

This is however not the first time a man has had to be ejected from Mirpur during the BPL. In the tournament's first season, a Pakistan national named Sajid Khan was handed over to the police for suspected involvement in match-fixing after he was stopped from trying to enter the players' zone.

JARVIS JETS IN ON TIME FOR THE T20 FINAL

SEAMER Kyle Jarvis returned on Tuesday night from New Zealand also making a timely return for Mashonaland Eagles ahead of their Castle Lager T20 final clash against the Mutare based Mountaineers this Sunday. 

Jarvis who had a great time on the field in New Zealand was seen on Wednesday morning going through the paces with the national team that is in camp for a month long  tour to the West Indies in a fortnight.

Jarvis, who has been turning out for Central Districts in New Zealand’s Plunket Shield four-day competition, will be expected to spearhead the bowling attack that also include Tino Mutombodzi, Prosper Utseya, Ray Price and Chamu Chibhabha who will be released from national team camp to feature for their paymasters. 

Eagles coach Steve Mangongo applauded the homecoming of his strike bowler saying that it will add value towards winning the silverware. “We are boosted by the arrival of Jarvis; he is a key bowler and good boost to the team. He is a seasoned pro who we will be looking to lead the attack” said Mangongo 

“We know he has had good experience in New Zealand and this will surely bring balance into the team. Remember we also have Tino and the other usual suspects.” Added the pompous Mangongo

On the final, Mangongo said: “we are keeping it tight. It’s getting big and we are happy with preparations. The boys are up for it.’ Although the Eagles ended the round of matches without tasting defeat, the gaffer says this will be his main worry as he feels the boys will get reluctant to fly. “We were undefeated but I am worried by complacency that they have done well they might walk over it. A new day has a new game so they must expect something new. Said Mangongo 

He went on to say “We have done everything in terms of preparations; we are training all day for the past three days so we are living no stone unturned”. Mangongo recently won the Pro50 Championship hence he will be aiming to make win other title in less than a year in charge of the Eagles.

WEST INDIES A BEATABLE TEAM

Zimbabwe will in the next eleven days tour the West Indies for two tests, two Twenty 20 and three one day Internationals. The team has been selected and there is couple of youngsters set to make their debuts, specialist coaches not travelling and a lot of selection controversies set ablaze by the country's Sports minister  through the Sports and Recreaction Commission Board. Away from all of this it’s time to look on the bright side and start following what the opposition is doing at present.

The Darren Sammy captained West Indies is in Australia at the moment where they are finding the going tough to say the least. Their top order led by power hitter Chris Gayle, Kerian Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren and Dwayne Bravo is in great shape and will be a force to reckon with; assuming off cause that Ottis Gibson opts for using the same batting combinations against Zimbabwe then there might be a need for some sharp think required from the bowlers.

Chris Mpofu, Kegaan Meth, Kyle Jarvis have to search for that killer instinct and ability to focus under pressure, think about the kind of line required when bowling at these world class beaters. Gayle in particular enjoys the fast and furious, so with an attack that has a speed average of 132 km/h it should frustrate the big man from the Caribbean. However the spin department to be marshalled by Prosper Utseya, ray Price, Graeme Cremer and the two debutants Natsai Mushangwe and Tino Mutombombodzi simple turn will not do much but delivery variation will be key as evidenced by the number of lbw dismissals in Australia at the moment as the West Indians tend to struggle with fit movement.

The bowling attack which is currently comprised of forceful paceman Kemar Roach, teenager Jason Holder Sammy, Sunil Narine and sometimes Gayle has taken 15 wickets in the Australian tour so far. This makes these bowlers quite average but on a good day they can rise above the dead and injure our batting line up that lacks enthusiasm many a time and is known for its poor shot selection and execution. However with the form Brendan Taylor, Tino Mawoyo, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva and Vusi Sibanda are currently enjoying it remains to be seen how they intend to deal with this youthful attack in those West Indian wickets.

It will be important for Mountaineers and Sylhet Royals’ opener Hamilton Masakadza to get his groove back as he will be instrumental in championing Zimbabwe’s batting prows. He has been struggling with form of late but he is a tried and tested carder who cans still the show on any given wicket.

Let’s look at the last three One Day Internationals that the West Indians have played in the last two weeks. These are brief match reports of these games...............

First ODI in Australia, Set 267 to win after George Bailey's unbeaten 125 rescued the Australian innings, the West Indies were cruising at 159 for three in the run chase, before the return of Mitchell Starc to the attack turned the match again as the tourists were bowled out 212 in the 39th over.

Starc (5-32) had claimed the first three wickets in the West Indian innings, all lbw, to have them reeling at 33 for three, but when he came back into the attack the Australians were struggling, with opener Kieran Powell and Dwayne Bravo putting on a century partnership for the fourth wicket.

MATCH 2, Paceman Mitchell Starc helped consign West Indies to their third lowest total in one-day internationals as Australia's top order needed less than 10 overs to race to a nine-wicket victory. Man-of-the-match Starc captured five wickets for 20 and burly quick Clint McKay returned figures of 3-10 as the tourists were skittled for 70, having won the toss and elected to bat first on a baking hot day.

Australia's response was short and brutal with opener Glenn Maxwell blasting an unbeaten 51 and Usman Khawaja finishing on eight not out after pushing the winning single to wrap up victory in the opener of the five-match series.

MATCH 3, Shane Watson celebrated his return to international cricket with a sparkling innings of 122 before Australia secured a clinical 39-run win over the West Indies in the third ODI at Manuka Oval on Wednesday. The visitors looked on course at 214 for three with Darren Bravo on 86, but they lost both Bravo and Gayle one run apart, and even Andre Russell's 31-ball 43 could not stem the collapse as they lost their last seven wickets for 76 runs. Earlier, Australia posted 329 for seven.

Well with this kind of perfomance, am sure we can give the West Indians a run for their money. Although we must not forget that this is Astralia currently tearing them apart and making light weight of them.

WEST INDIES COACH STAYS ON

St. John's, Antigua: Ottis Gibson is set to remain as coach of the West Indies for a further three years after it was announced he had a signed a new contract.

The former West Indies paceman had been linked with a move to English county champions Warwickshire, following Ashley Giles's appointment as England one-day coach, before the Midlands side promoted Dougie Brown from within their existing set-up.

However, Gibson - who is presently overseeing the West Indies' tour of Australia - has now clarified his future by signing a new three-year contract which will run till 2016.

The 43-year-old has served as West Indies coach for the past three years, from January 2010, having previously been England bowling coach.

"Ottis has added significant value to the development of the West Indies team during his tenure and we are delighted to have secured his services for another three years," West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Michael Muirhead said yesterday.
"Most notably is that he led the implementation of a system of professionalism within the team unit and curbed the negative results which we were experiencing with some frequency.

"There have also been clear successes under his stewardship from 2010 to date. These include, most notably, having coached the team to the World Twenty20 title, the team showing consistent improvements in the other formats, the reintegration of players into the team unit and the achievement of the set goals as outlined in the WICB Strategic Plan 2011 - 2016." Muirhead added that whilst Gibson's tenure had not been without its problems they were part and parcel of the job.

"While there have also been some challenges along the way, these are not to be unexpected in such a dynamic and high pressure environment and the WICB looks forward to the continued development of the West Indies team through this next critical phase under Ottis' stewardship at the elite team level," Muirhead said.

Gibson, a pace bowler who played two Tests and 15 one-day internationals, said he was delighted to have been signed up for a new term.

"There is a lot to do and things to look forward to. There is the Champions Trophy in England this year, we will be defending the World T20 title in Bangladesh next year and there is the World Cup in 2015.

"These are things we have talked about and these are things the selectors have been planning for," added Gibson.

COVENTRY BEATS CHIGUMBURA IN THE BPL

Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry 's 20 runs off 17 deliveris gave Duronto Rajshahi a positive start, as they beat Elton Chigumbura's Sylhet Royals by five wickets earlier today in Mirpur. Meanwhile Hamilton Masakadza had to sit out his third game at the on going Bangladesh Premier League.

Jahurul Islam's unbeaten 49 guided Duronto Rajshahi to their fifth win in the competition, beating Sylhet Royals, who remain top of the table despite the defeat.

Tamim Iqbal's absence, after he hurt his left hand while fielding, made the chase of 148 appear more impressive.  After Coventry and Dilshan Munaweera gave Rajshahi a positive start, they lost four wickets quickly, and Jahurul faced a familiar task of steadying the innings.

After Jahurul and Ziaur Rahman were separated in the 15th over, Jahurul added 46 off 29 balls with Mukhtar Ali to reach the target in the final over. Mukhtar was given more of the strike and the aggressive allrounder made the most of his opportunities as he struck two sixes and a four in his 17-ball 29.

This was Jahurul's third match-winning knock in a row: he scored 57 and 38 not out against Barisal Burners and Rangpur Riders before this match.

The Rajshahi bowlers had also contributed to the win, with left-arm spinner Monir Hossain and Munaweera taking two wickets each. After a strong second-wicket partnership between Paul Stirling and Mushfiqur Rahim, who added added 51 runs, the Royals lost their way as they went for too many attacking strokes.

Ben Edmondson, Naeem Islam jnr and Mukhtar took a wicket each, and helped Rajshahi restrict their opponents to 147. The seamers had made scoring difficult by changing the pace of their deliveries on a slow wicket.

Mushfiqur and Stirling, who scored 34 and 24 respectively, were the highest scorers for the Royals as none of their big-hitters down the order contributed much.

 

Brendan Taylor's Chittagong Kings play on Thursday against Khulna in Dhaka.

 

CHECK OUT THE FULL SCORE CARD ON

www.cricinfo.com

 

LAMB STARS ON DAY ONE IN MUTARE

Greg Lamb scored a massive 139 runs to put Mountaineers in a commanding position as  they made 309 runs for seven wickets. Mountaineers host the Southern Rocks in Mutare Sports Club in a Logan Cup match.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat, choosing to use Jethro Maundzi and Dan Hodgson as their opening batsman.  Hodgson was the first to depart in the tenth over after contributing just seven runs with Maundzi managing ten runs also heading for the pavilion four overs later. Kevin Kasuza was joined by Mark Pettini at the crease and the duo looked set to occupy until the end of the first day. Kasuza looked positive on the bad balls and seemed to respect the good ones but mistimed a Tanyadzwa Munyaradzi delivery in the 26th over and had his off stump uprooted, leaving the score on 50 for three.

National team hopeful Tymcen Maruma was Munyaradzi's second victim as he was caught by Prince Masvaure. Then entered a composed Lamb who took his time to settle in and carefully selected his shots in a 191 ball old innings. Lamb fired 13 fours and three sixes before he falling victim of a Tinashe Panyangara spectacular ball that removed his middle stump and left revellers wondering if Lamb had taken the correct guard.  His departure left the hosts on 298, his partnership with Pettini yielded 150 runs . Pettini had earlier failed to deal comprehensively with a Mathew Pardoe delivery as he was caught behind by an impressive wicketkeeper Richard Mutumbami for 83 runs.

Kudzai Sauramba scored 38 runs in the cause for the hosts however he was the only batsman after Pettini and Lamb to get into the meaningful double figures. At the close of day one Shingi Masakadza and Donald Tiripano were at the crease on 6 and 4 runs respectively.

The pick of the Bowlers for the Rocks was Tawanda Mupariwa and Munyaradzi who had picked up two wickets each. Mupariwa got his pair after 18 overs conceding 40 runs and seven maidens while young Munyaradzi gave away 35 runs in 9 overs. Pardoe, Panyangara and Trevor Garwe picked up a wicket each although they struggled in a wicket that favoured batsmen.

Play resumes at 10 am at Mutare Sports Club

TAYLOR HAPPY WITH CAPTAINCY ROLE

In the Bangladesh Premier League  Chittagong Kings Captaincy changed hands with Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor replacing Mahmudullah Riyad , who is believed not to have been enjoying the role.

The Kings have in their books Top cricketer like England all rounder Ravi Bopara, New Zealand's Jacob Oram and Australian Shaun Tait. This only widens Taylor's horizon as a captain and gives him the necessary on the field training as to what is expected of him  when pressure times call. There he has a group of senior world class beaters who are not concerned about the affairs of team effort but their individual successes. We can safely say he is going it alone and he stands to be tested here if his man management skills are up to scratch.

Taylor who says he is delighted to be captaining the Kings "The appointment is definately a boost for me  ahead of Zimbabwe's tour to the West Indies" he said. " I see the going is tough out here but the main goal is to get the team further up in the log, and l believe we have a chance to make even better" he added.

"I feel really honored to be leading such a big team with such big names within its ranks. I have to concentrate on game by game every time" said Taylor in a telephone interview with Off The Crease. 
The Zimbabwe and Midwest Rhinos top order batsman has scored a massive 269 runs in seven matches and has a total of three half centuries....

Other Zimbabweans at the BPL are former national team all rounder Sean Ervine who has scored 129 runs in 8 outings, fly away all-rounder Elton Chigumbura who has 131 runs with 5 wickets, with Matabeleland Tuskers wicket keeper batsman Charles  Coventry on 149 runs after 7 matches. Opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza who's form took a deep after the first two matches has managed a total of 88 runs.....