Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets (with 52 balls remaining) – 1st ODI: Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, in Harare

Brian Vitori and Vusi Sibanda starring for Zimbabwe, Vitori ran through Bangladesh with a four-wicket burst at the start, and Sibanda was all dancing feet and flashing blade against the left-arm spinners despite the early loss of Taylor. They could have so easily got bogged down, but he saw them through despite a stirring display of swing with the oldish ball from Rubel.

12th August 2011 – Hours of play (local time): 09.30 start (07:30 GMT / 08:30 BST) , First Session 09.30-13.00, Interval 13.00-13.45, Second Session 13.45-17.15

Latest:
Game Over: Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets (with 52 balls remaining)

Drinks: Zimbabwe - 107/1 in 21.0 overs (V Sibanda 53, H Masakadza 38)

Innings Break: Bangladesh - 184/10 in 48.4 overs (Suhrawadi Shuvo 20)
Drinks: Bangladesh - 119/5 in 34.0 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 41, Mushfiqur Rahim 37)
Drinks: Bangladesh - 39/4 in 15.0 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 0, Mahmudullah 4)
Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bowl first

Brendan Taylor: "Our top order seem to have worked out a better gameplan during chasing. During the Test we saw that the ball did something in the first session."

Kyle Jarvis and Tino Mawoyo miss out from the Zimbabwe XI that played the Test. Prosper Utseya and Forster Mutizwa come in

Kepler Wessels says there is less grass on the surface compared to the pitch on which the Test was played. There is some early morning moisture but that should evaporate soon and bat first is the way to go, he says.

After the excellent victory on their Test return, Zimbabwe now take on Bangladesh in a One Day International (ODI) series - this is a format that is more familiar to both teams. Whilst the Test match was only settled on the final day, Zim were on top for most of the game, but they may not get it all their own way in the ODI's as these two fairly evenly-matched sides face off over five games to be played in Harare and Bulawayo.

Team News
Unlike in the test, Brendan Taylor will opening the batting along with Hamilton Masakadza. After his great performance in the only test against Bangladesh, Brian Vitori is in line for his first ODI cap. Prosper Utseya will also play adding another spinner to the team and Forster Mutizwa, who was rather unlucky to miss out on the Test match after his performance in the warm-up, is likely to slot into the middle order.

It's the batting department where Zimbabwe are likely to look a touch light, but a return to form with the willow by Elton Chigumbura would go some way to solving that. His bowling performance in the Test should give him confidence.

Waller seems the best equipped to fill the second all-rounder's berth which would give the hosts plenty of batting and bowling, but as an offspinner might not be suited to a pace-heavy game plan so may not be included. Keegan Meth could may also get the nod as he is a slightly better batsman than Kyle Jarvis, but expect that place to rotate (Mutizwa must also be in the running) and possibly be a thorn in Zimbabwe's side as they search for the right balance.

Zimbabwe Team: (probable):
1 Brendan Taylor (capt), 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Vusi Sibanda, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 6 Forster Mutizwa, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Ray Price, 10 Brian Vitori, 11 Chris Mpofu.

Bangladesh Team (probable):
1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Junaid Siddique, 4 Shahriar Nafees, 5 Mohammad Ashraful, 6 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 7 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 8 Abdur Razzak, 9 Shafiul Islam, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Nasir Hossain

A few Stats

If history is anything to go by, things do not look too good for Zim:

Bangladesh have won the last three series between these two countries - two of them at home in Bangladesh and one in Bulawayo - and have therefore been installed as favourites with the bookmakers, but it remains to be seen how they react to losing a Test for which they were ill-prepared and ill-equipped. There is a belief in the Zimbabwean camp that the subcontinental side do not have much of an appetite for adversity and so the hosts will fancy their chances, no doubt hugely encouraged by Monday's result.

Last Five Head-To-Head Results

• December, 2010: Fifth ODI: Bangladesh won by six wickets
• December, 2010: Fourth ODI: Match abandoned
• December, 2010: Third ODI: Bangladesh won by 65 runs
• December, 2010: Second ODI: Bangladesh won by six wickets
• December, 2010: First ODI: Zimbabwe won by nine runs

• In one day cricket, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have played against each other 51 times: Zim 23 wins, Bangladesh 28 wins
• In the last 5 years they have played against each other 31 times: Bangladesh 23 wins, Zimbabwe only 8 wins
• Shahriar Nafees's batting average against Zimbabwe is 62.41, almost double his overall average of 33.34. Three of his four hundreds came against them, including his highest score of 123.

Bangladesh's recent dominance over Zimbabwe may suggest that are firm favourites on the eve this series, but the tables have turned a little. Zimbabwe beat them in their comeback Test and will want to maintain their status with a convincing performance in the ODIs. Although Zim's most recent showing in the fifty-over format, at the 2011 World Cup, was disappointing. They registered just one win over minnows Kenya and their five defeats meant that any outside chance they had of making it to the quarter-finals quickly disappeared.

On a more positive note: Ray Price should enjoy the game as his highest score with the bat (46) was against Bangladesh in August 2009 as are his best bowling figures of 4 for 22 also against Bangladesh in January 2009.

Series Fixtures

• First ODI: 12 August, Harare
• Second ODI: 14 August, Harare
• Third ODI: 16 August, Harare
• Fourth ODI: 19 August, Bulawayo
• Fifth ODI: 21 August, Bulawayo

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

Blood, Sweat and Treason on Amazon.com

Match finished: Zimbabwe won by 130 runs

Zimbabwe: 370 & 291/5d
Bangladesh: 287 & 244 (57.3 ov)

Zimbabwe have won the one-off Test against Bangladesh by 130 runs in Harare, concluding a successful return to the longer form of the international game.

Bangladesh lost their remaining two wickets for the addition of 16 runs after lunch to close their second innings on 244 chasing an improbable victory target of 375.

Opening the day on 112 for three, the tourists lost wickets steadily in the morning session and when three fell in successive overs the end was near.

Some defiant late hitting by Abdur Razzak only delayed the inevitable as Zimbabwe recorded a comfortable win on their return to Test cricket after their self-imposed exile.

Bangladesh lost Mohammad Ashraful, who had put together a partnership of 38 with Mushfiqur Rahim before he was bowled by Brian Vitori for 39 off an inside edge. When Bangladesh then lost Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in successive overs the home side closed quickly on victory.

Mahmudullah was caught by Tatenda Taibu off the bowling of Chris Mpofu for 11 and when Shakib was caught by Brendan Taylor off Elton Chigumbura for six the visitors were reeling on 174 for six.

Mushfiqur also fell to Mpofu, this time caught by Craig Ervine, for 28 without further addition to the total. Razak and Shafiul Islam put on a defiant half-century for the eighth wicket before the former was bowled by Chigumbura to leave the total on 224 for eight and Zimbabwe on the verge of victory.

Razzak had smashed 43 of those runs off just 17 balls, including five fours and three sixes, before his dismissal meant Bangladesh’s last hope disappeared in the final over before lunch.

Kyle Jarvis returned after lunch to claim the wickets of Shafiul and Robiul Islam to leave Rubel Hossain unbeaten on eight from a total of 244. Jarvis returned figures of four for 61.

Previously
Day 4
End Of Day: Bangladesh – 112/3 in 30.0 overs (M Ashraful 19, M Rahim 4)
Tea: Zimbabwe – 291/5 in 92.0 overs (BRM Taylor 105, CR Ervine 35
BRM Taylor: 100 off 170 balls (9 x 4
Drinks: Zim – 233/5 in 81.0 overs (BRM Taylor 71, CR Ervine 14)

Day 4 News
Zimbabwe go into the final day of their Test against Bangladesh needing seven wickets for victory after the bowlers responded to Brendan Taylor’s bold declaration by reducing the tourists to 112 for three.

Taylor became the second Zimbabwean in history – and the seventh overall – to hit a maiden Test century in his first match as captain, as Zimbabwe declared their second innings on 291 for five at tea on day four.

That left Bangladesh needing 375 to win from 123 overs, a feat which looked quite possible when their openers put on a brisk 65-run stand at the top of the order.

But Chris Mpofu bowled the dangerous Tamim Iqbal (43) and Kyle Jarvis took two wickets to give Zimbabwe every chance of winning their first match back in Test cricket after a six-year absence, with Bangladesh requiring a further 263 runs on day five.

19 years after Zimbabwe’s first Test captain Dave Houghton hit a century on his country’s debut, Taylor added his name to a niche list by going to three figures shortly before tea, before setting a target which was likely to induce some attacking shots from the Bangladeshi batsmen.

Taylor was unbeaten on 105 and Craig Ervine 35 not out from 55 deliveries, with both batsmen cranking through the gears in the second session after Tatenda Taibu had fallen shortly after lunch, and Taylor taking just 53 balls to score his second fifty after needing 117 for his first.

Taibu went to lunch on 53 not out, but added just six to his total before chipping Shafiul Islam to extra cover as he looked to clear the infield.

Although Ervine took a few overs to get his eye in having endured a wretched run of form since the World Cup, he then started finding the middle of the bat and went on to add 86 with Taylor in less than 18 overs to set up the declaration.

A wicketless opening session had put Zimbabwe back in firm control, with Taibu making most of the running as he breezed to an unbeaten half-century, while Taylor made slower progress to reach lunch on 46 not out from 112 deliveries.

After Zimbabwe’s collapse late on day three had put the match back in the balance, the two batsmen came out with a far more positive mindset to re-establish control.

46 runs were taken in the opening 45 minutes as Taibu and Taylor worked the ball into the gaps and ran an unusually high number of threes.

Taibu was also quick on his feet to the spinners, taking a particular liking to Shakib Al Hasan as he hit the Bangladesh skipper out of the attack by regularly finding the boundary.

However Shakib was replaced by off-spinner Mahmudullah who bowled a more negative line from around the wicket to force Zimbabwe to be more patient, and the scoring slowed down dramatically over the last 45 minutes of the session with just nine runs coming from the last 10 overs.

A more productive second session led Taylor to stick the Bangladeshis back in, and his confidence in his bowlers was rewarded after a nervy, run-filled period when Mpofu came around the wicket to hit the top of Tamim’s off stump as the left-hander shouldered arms.

Jarvis then gained his reward for another sharp spell of bowling when, having beaten the bat on numerous occasions, he finally found the edge of Imrul Kayes’ bat to have the opener caught behind for 31.

The 22-year-old fast bowler wasn’t finished yet, and also used the round-the-wicket approach to full effect as he sent Shariar Nafees’ leg stump cartwheeling to set up an exciting final day at Harare Sports Club.

Day 3
End Of Day: Zimbabwe – 92/4 in 34.3 overs (BRM Taylor 5, T Taibu 0)
Lunch: Bangladesh – 200/5 in 73.0 overs (S Al Hasan 40, M Rahim 3)
Drinks: Bangladesh – 163/4 in 59.0 overs (M Ashraful 62, S Al Hasan 17)

Day 2
End Of Day 2 Bangladesh – 107/3 in 46.0 overs (M Ashraful 34, Mahmudullah 4)
Tea: Bangladesh – 38/2 in 12.0 overs (Shahriar Nafees 17, M Ashraful 2)
Innings Break: Zimbabwe – 370/10 in 131.0 overs (KM Jarvis 4)
Lunch: Zimbabwe – 326/6 in 115.3 overs (T Taibu 3)
Drinks: Zimbabwe – 304/3 in 104.0 overs (BRM Taylor 64)
H Masakadza: 100 off 235 balls (8 x 4, 1 x 6)

Day 1
End Day 1: Zim – 264/2 in 90.0 overs (H Masakadza 88, BRM Taylor 40)
At Tea Zimbabwe 191/2 in 60.0 overs (H Masakadza 56, BRM Taylor 4)
At Drinks: Zim – 144/1 in 44.0 overs (V Sibanda 69, H Masakadza 23)
At Lunch Zim were 102/1 in 30.0 overs (V Sibanda 50, H Masakadza 0)

Zim were put into bat first on a typically sunny, clear but cool day at the Harare Sports Club and went about it very well on the first Test and only test against Bangladesh.

Considering that this is Zimbabwe’s first test in almost six years, their opening stand on the first day was pretty impressive, especially when you take into account that the pitch is expected to offer the seamers some early assistance. It is likely to flatten as the match goes on, Shakib Al Hasan made the expected decision to bowl after winning the toss, something Brendan Taylor admitted he would also have done.

Zimbabwe have 4 newcomers to test cricket in their team, opening batsman Tinotenda Mawoyo, middle-order batsman Craig Ervine, and bowlers Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori, who received their caps shortly after the toss. Tatenda Taibu, who created shockwaves through Zimbabwe cricket with his revelations of administrative problems, was in the starting line-up and will bat at No. 6. Zimbabwe played one spinner in Ray Price, who is likely to play a containing role.

Zimbabwe have not played a Test in almost six years, when they lost to India by ten wickets at this ground. Bangladesh also had a mini-hiatus from the longest version of the game. They last played a Test 14 months ago, against England. Bangladesh have never won a Test in Zimbabwe and only one member of the current team, Mohammad Ashraful, has played in a Test against them.

Zimbabwe Team: 1 Vusi Sibanda, 2 Tinotenda Mawoyo, 3 Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), 4 Hamilton Masakadza, 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Tatenda Taibu, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Ray Price, 9 Kyle Jarvis, 10 Brian Vitori, 11 Christopher Mpofu

Bangladesh Team: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes , 3 Shahriar Nafees, 4 Mohammad Ashraful, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Abdur Razzak, 9 Shafiul Islam, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Robiul Islam

ODI Series Fixtures

Zim also take on Bangladesh in a series of one day internationals:

• First ODI: 12 August, Harare
• Second ODI: 14 August, Harare
• Third ODI: 16 August, Harare
• Fourth ODI: 19 August, Bulawayo
• Fifth ODI: 21 August, Bulawayo

Zimbabwe Cricket welcomes Bangladesh to restart their test career again this month.

The first and only Test match against Bangladesh will be played from 4th to the 8th of August 2011 at Harare Sports Club with Brendan Taylor leading the Zimbabwean side.

Cricket Zimbabwe withdrew from Test Cricket almost 6 years ago in September 2005 and the hope is that now with some major rebuilding they should be good enough to be competitive.

Test Cricket provides great opportunity for Cricket in Zimbabwe, and now its up to Cricket Zimbabwe, their coach and players on how they grab it and bring back good years of Zimbabwean Cricket.

Zimbabwe Squad News
Brendan Taylor (capt), Regis Chakabva, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Keegan Meth, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori

Test cricket presented the Zimbabwean selectors with an issue of getting the right balance to the side, this was probably not felt quite as acutely as in the limited-overs sides that have recently been selected.

The dependable Tatenda Taibu looks most likely to keep wicket, but Zimbabwe will probably have to break up one of their most dependable bowling partnerships, as only one of either Utseya and Ray Price are expected to be included in the team. While both men are automatic selections in limited-overs cricket, Zimbabwe are attempting to move away from their reliance on spin as they re-enter the Test arena.

It is also probably safe to assume that Chris Mpofu will take the new ball, it’s not entirely clear whether Vitori or Keegan Meth will partner him.

Probably Zimbabwe’s biggest weakness is their opening pair of Vusi Sibanda and Tino Mawoyo. Whilst they were able to hang on for almost 55 overs in the first innings of Zimbabwe’s match against Australia in Harare two weeks ago, neither gave you the feeling that they were very comfortable.

Bangladesh tour Zimbabwe 2011 Fixture Details
Thu Aug 4 – Mon Aug 8: Only Test – Zimbabwe v Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club

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

Blood, Sweat and Treason on Amazon.com

ODI Series Fixtures

Zim also take on Bangladesh in a series of one day internationals:

• First ODI: 12 August, Harare
• Second ODI: 14 August, Harare
• Third ODI: 16 August, Harare
• Fourth ODI: 19 August, Bulawayo
• Fifth ODI: 21 August, Bulawayo