adminis becoming increasingly difficult to find the adjectives to describe his walk-on-water performances.
Bangladesh didn’t do themselves any favours by playing some poor cricket to find themselves floundering at 58-6 before debutante Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak and captain Shakib Al Hasan dragged the Tigers out of the mire and gave themselves something to bowl at.
The 19-year-old Hossain showed his more senior and experienced players how to occupy the crease when in trouble as well as how to rotate the strike at any possible given opportunity.
Elton Chigumbura will no doubt be happier with his bowling performance of 2-35 in his 10 overs while Raymond Price seems to be struggling for form as well as effectiveness, which will no doubt be frustrating the highly competitive 35-year-old.
Bangladesh seen to have lost all their confidence and self belief, which is a little surprising.
Even though they didn’t have the World Cup many people thought they would have, there were some good performances and results which should have given them a huge amount of confidence, specially against a side who they have dominated for quite some time now.
Experienced players such as Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful and to a lesser extent Abdur Razzak haven’t delivered so far which puts a huge amount of pressure on the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to try and steady the ship. Rahim’s promotion to number three backfired on the visitors as a well directed Chris Mpofu bouncer took care of the gritty little wicket keeper batsman.
It was also very clear to note that Ashraful was in two minds as to how to approach his innings as the criticism he received, after his dismissal in the first ODI, clearly ruffled him and made him feel that he had to change his game.
Zimbabwe had a definite plan as to how they were going to go about chasing the total set by Bangladesh and that plan was to take their time in getting there and not lose the cluster of wickets they did in the middle order when they won on Friday.
Brendan Taylor will be disappointed with his scores of 10 and three but one feels certain that he will come good and play an innings of substance in the series.
Vusi Sibanda has always made it clear that he prefers batting in the middle order, and the number four position in particular, has been his favourite spot.
But with the consistence he has been showing at the top of the order in the two ODIs, as well as the Test match and even against Australia A, may just change his way of thinking as his ability to hook and pull the seamers as well as use his feet against the spinners when playing those delightful on and off drives, has made him Zimbabwe’s ideal opening batsman.
The fall of the coin has been kind to Taylor in the first two ODIs and it will be interesting to see how Zimbabwe’s batsmen will approach the damp morning conditions of Harare Sports Club should they be asked to bat first.
Online Reporter