Zimbabwe crush Bangladesh by eight wickets
By Tichaona Sibanda
6 February 2007

Zimbabwe’s batsmen finally awakened from their slumber on Tuesday when they displayed some positive attacking batting in dispatching Bangladesh by eight wickets at Harare Sports Club.

Bangladesh was put to bat first and was dismissed for 153 allowing Zimbabwe to win comfortably by posting 156 for the loss of two wickets.
Earlier the team’s bowlers had done well in the morning when they restricted Bangladesh to 153 with Gary Brent claiming four wickets to help Zimbabwe win their first one day international in 14 matches. The series in now levelled at one-all with two matches still to be played.

Cricket analyst Elvis Sembezeya, who watched the match at Harare Sports Club, was full of praise for the opening pair of Vusi Sibanda and Terry Duffin who responded well to Bangladesh’s spin masters.

Sembezeya said Sibanda and Duffin unsettled the Bangladesh spinners, a key and tactical move that cast away any thoughts the visitors had of fighting back when the duo’s opening stand reached 125 before Duffin was run out.

Gary Brent’s four wickets were also a key part of restricting Bangladesh to 153, before Sibanda powered the run chase with an unbeaten 93. Duffin played a familiar style innings, providing good support. His 32 took 83 balls before he was run out with the winning line in sight.
This result will provide the much-needed confidence for the crisis ridden Zimbabwe squad as the World Cup approaches.

‘I’ve always pointed out that the team plays negatively when the opposition sends in its spinners to do the damage. We lost the first match because the team resorted to defensive shots. But today (Tuesday) the opening pair went for the kill and look at what happened,’ Sembezeya said.

He blamed the coach for not motivating his players when the chips were down. Kevin Curren, a former seamer for Zimbabwe and now the coach, has been under fire since he took charge of the team last year.

Many analysts blame him for running short of ideas when it gets tough and others said he is reversing the fortunes of cricket in the country with his negative approach to the game.