Zimbabwe take on Canada in their second match in this years ICC Cricket World Cup and I am sure all Zimbos around the globe would like to wish Zimbabwe the best of luck.
Zimbabwe vs Canada Live Video Streaming
You can now also watch live video streaming of the game right here on Chirundu.com:
Game Over
Zimbabwe 298/9 (50 ov) | Canada 123 (42.1 ov)
Zimbabwe won by 175 runs
This was a no-contest from the time Taibu and Ervine put on in one partnership more than what Canada could get. Zimbabwe were solid, Canada hopeless. Tatenda Taibu top scored with 98 and Craig Ervine put on 85. The pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers was Ray Price who got 3 for 16.
This was Zim’s fourth-biggest win in ODIs by a runs margin and their most emphatic in a World Cup.
Preview & the Game So Far
Even though Zimbabwe lost to Australia last week, they can be pretty proud of putting up a good performance and so should go into this game with a good deal of confidence.
End of Zimbabwe Innings: Zim 298/9 (RR: 5.96)
Zimbabwe have managed to post a pretty challenging score, though we looked good to get much more when Taibu and Ervine were going strong. But once again the batting let us down a little and Zim lost five for 52 at one stage with Balaji chipping in with wickets in the middle overs. Nevetheless, Canada have a daunting task ahead of them. It could come down to how they handle spin. Zimbabwe have three specialist spinners and enough part-timers, do Canada have the wherewithal to combat them?
At the Toss
Zimbabwe won the toss in the battle of the reds at Nagpur and Elton Chigumbura decided to bat first against Canada. Chigumbura implied that the reason for this was that he'd like to give his batsmen the chance to find some form and set up a good total for his spinners to bowl at.
The Canadian captain, Ashish Bagai, did not seem too upset with losing the toss and said he would've have bowled first anyway in the hope of taking advantage of any life in the wicket first thing in the morning.
It's not often that Zimbabwe start as such overwhelming favourites, but they can't afford to take this opposition lightly. Canada have boldly stated that wins over Kenya and Zimbabwe were their goals coming into this tournament, and although their only ODI against the Zimbabweans, at Port of Spain in May 2006, resulted in a 143-run thrashing they've had more joy in Twenty20s. At King City in October 2008 they fought to a tie, only to concede the match in a bowl-off.
As usual spin is our strength with the trio of Ray Price, Graeme Cremer and Prosper Utseya restraining the batsmen. The Zimbabwe Spinners in the last game against Australia in fact, bowled 39 of the 50 overs and did very well, it was the the batting that failed the team. There is significant experience in the top and middle orders but the bulk of the responsibility in Zimbabwe's chase fell on those lower down the list. On what is expected to be a flat pitch, against a Canadian attack, Zimbabwe's batsmen have the right opportunity to get into the groove.
People to look out for include Charles Coventry - Since his incredible, record-equalling 194 against Bangladesh, he hasn't quite lived up to his potential. He is an attacking batsman who is exciting to watch when in full flow. His last 18 innings have just brought him one half-century. He's got starts, a spate of scores between 10 and 20, but his failure to push on has undermined, somewhat, the hype around him after that landmark achievement.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura hinted his team would retain its three-pronged spin attack. They could go in with an unchanged team. They have seamer Shingirai Masakadza, allrounder Tinashe Panyangara and left-hand batsman Terry Duffin in the 15-man squad as well.
Zimbabwe team
1 Brendan Taylor, 2 Charles Coventry, 3 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Greg Lamb, 7 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Ray Price, 11 Chris Mpofu
Canada team
1 Nitish Kumar, 2 John Davison, 3 Ruvindu Gunasekara, 4 Ashish Bagai (capt/wk), 5 Jimmy Hansra, 6 Zubin Surkari, 7 Tyson Gordon, 8 Rizwan Cheema, 9 Khurram Chohan, 10 Harvir Baidwan, 11 Balaji Rao
Zimbabwe Cricket Books
Amazon, have a bunch of Zim related cricket books, including "Blood, Sweat And Treason" by Henry Olonga, "A History of the Rhodesia and Zimbabwe National Sides" by Jonty Winch who traces the history of cricket in this country (Zimbabwe) from the first recorded game played in 1890, through two World Wars and a guerilla war, to the comparative peace of post-independence and eventual world recognition in the 1980s when Zimbabwe was able to send a side to England to take part in the I.C.C. Trophy competition which it won.
There is also the Autobiography of another great Zimbabwean cricket coach Duncan Fletcher "Behind the Shades"
USA: Amazon.com
Zimbabwe Cricket on Amazon.com
At the moment Amazon UK don't have as wide selection as the US site, but I have ordered books from the US and had them delivered to the UK with no problems.
UK: Amazon.co.uk
Zimbabwe Cricket on Amazon.co.uk
Where to Buy Blood, Sweat and Treason
Currently available in Hardcover it is available online through Amazon, in the UK and US
UK
Blood, Sweat and Treason on Amazon.co.uk
USA
For more information and to book check the Imire Safari Ranch website: www.imiresafariranch.com or you can contact them via email: imiregp [at] zol.co.zw
Zimbabwe (Bradt Travel Guide)
Southern Africa (Lonely Planet Multi Country Guide)
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