Is 'relief' a positive!?

[butchering lee]

This final pre-WC bout has been something of a relief.

3-1 is already one better than expected and the last two were pretty close fought (i know in theory the last is not finished as i write but...!!) but in the end i don't think zimbabwe are going anywhere - they have some talent - i know there are those who don't rate any of this zim side but the likes of chigumbura and chibhabha have made all thier runs against better sides than BD - and it's their efforts vs. the "minnows BD" or the associates that lend gravity to thier aves. in fact chigumbura has scored 1/2 centuries against all 'major' teams he's played against including, i think, SL, PAK, SA, AUS and WI. taylor can bat, duffin does a job, sibanda has his moments and when on song their bowling is adequate with m'pariwa, ireland, rainsford, utseya (but only holding an end) and competent allrounders in chigumbura and williams.

the thing is...something's gone [salary being one of many of the reasons for this loss of 'je ne sais quoi'] - they used to make up for their deficiencies with passion, good fielding, effort and team-work often leading to results beyond their means. without that they're...well - this!!!

[butchering lee]

final game over - closer than i thought. (1 wkt).

a clear game each and last 2 going BDs way (by 14 runs and by 1 wkt) - should BD be disappointed or worse worried!?

[Rifat]

Originally Posted by butchering lee

should BD be disappointed or worse worried!?

I am happy actually, away series is always much difficult than a home series for all teams
3-1 is a very good result, its a huge improvement from the last time we came to Zimbabwe.

[butchering lee]

hi and welcome rifat - nice to have a bangladeshi visit the forum!



Congratulations first!

true BD has not had much success in zim but for this zim side home advantage has been proven nothing more than urban legend. i don't think in terms of ability zim are that far behind BD .. but in terms of morale, leadership, support, stability (well, everything else) they're a distant second so they were there for the taking - and were indeed duly taken.
since the last time you were in zim fortunes have been opposite - you beat australia while i believe we lost to kenya and taking the last 7 meetings between us into account, which all went BDs way, i feel the result should have more convincing especially as all the signs seemed to point to BD widening the gap (by a way).

the problem was really that the 3-1 scoreline was slightly flattering...but having said that, the zim team did seem to put on a bit more of a team effort after the first game, and as i said they're not without ability, so maybe the result is in the end a good one for BD especially as they won the two close games - always a good sign.

in any case i think it's only good that there is still some competitiveness between the two sides - both can benefit!! taibu will strengthen us a bit but i still think beating ireland in the WC will be a good result - we'll see!!!