1st Videocon ODI: Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand at Bulawayo, 24 August

[Paoli]

Zimbabwe From: 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.



New Zealand From: 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.

Mmm...Looking forward to this and especially looking forward to Charles Coventry and Ed Rainsford getting a run. Most of the decisions I disagree. Chibhabha; I'd have gone for Douglas Marillier or even Mark Vermuelen. The other one I disagree with is Mwayenga, who has a disgracefully poor record when representing Zimbabwe. He often goes at more than six an over and never takes any wickets. Another is Sibanda, who is a proven unperformer; why not Stuey Matsikenyeri, he certainly is a better ODI player. And Dion Ebrahim should surely be in the side; he's made a valuable fifty against India in Australia, which was followed up by a 39.

My team would be:

Carlisle, Taylor, Masakadza, Wishart, Coventry, Streak, Taibu, Blignaut, Rainsford, Utseya, Mahwire. The one ODI Mahwire has played was against Australia in Melbourne where he bowled Michael Clarke out with an absolute belter. He deserves his shot.

C'Mon Zimbabwe!

[Paoli]

Wasn't expecting a huge scoring game at all.

UNTIL I SAW 334-3 AFTER 39 OVERS. WHAT A JOKE. Haven't yet checked the scorecard but my bet is if Mwayenga is playing he has gone for 100+.

[Maranello]

He is not, and no one has gone for 100 yet, though Blignaut has conceded 80 off 8!

NZL scoring at over 8 an over, might get the highest ever ODI total if they play well in the last ten overs.

[Paoli]

Unfortunately Maranello, it is a 44 over game!

[Maranello]

Highest team scores in ODIs here. No one has ever crossed 400, and only two teams have crossed 390 - hence something for NZL to aim for in the last 9 overs today.

[Maranello]

That is a disappointment! Why is the game curtailed, weather?

Even in 44 overs, NZL may end up with the third highest ODI total of all time, which would be impressive.

[Zainub]

The weather today in Bulawayo is great M, bright and sunny. The match had to be delayed because in the morning when they were removing the covers some water got spilled on certain areas of the pitch, which then had to be dried using a hair drier allegedly brought from Ravi Shastri's hotel room (Mike Haysman suggested that). There was bound to a bit of moisture in the surface even despite that though, that's why even Flemming suggested at the toss he would have liked to bowl had he won the toss.

None of that moisture seems to have taken any affect though. New Zealand currently 380/4 in the 42nd over.

[Paoli]

Hair drier?!?!? Doubt it were from Shastri's room; I think a practical joke from Haysman who I believe wears a wig! And, still a chance. At 380 for 4 with 8 balls to go, who says another few heaves couldn't happen.

Most impressed by Andy Ireland today; has taken 2 fer and going at six an over; not many when you compare it with the rest of the lads.

[Maranello]

NZL 397/5 off 44 overs, second highest ODI score ever.

The 400 remains elusive...

[Andy Mellon]

397 - 5. Lou Vincent, 172 runs off 119 balls!!! Brendon McCullum, 51 runs off 22 balls! 9.02 runs per over by New Zealand. Are they trying to prove a point to the ICC that Zimbabwe should not be playing full international cricket? Surely the ICC have to sit up and pay attention when this is happening?