WI vs Zim, ODI series, 2010

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West Indies’ poor form continued as they slipped to a two-run defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in the first one-day international in Guyana. More... Sibanda shines for Zimbabwe 4 March 2010 West Indies’ poor form continued as they slipped to a two-run defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in the first one-day international in Guyana. Vusi Sibanda fell just short of a century as Zimbabwe compiled a testing 254 for five having won the Twenty20 International between the sides on Sunday. Shivnarine Chanderpaul did his best to pull off a rescue act with 70 which took West Indies close after they fell behind the rate, but it was not enough. Sibanda was the backbone of the Zimbabwe innings with a knock of 95 off 162 deliveries, but his oddly pedestrian stay meant it was left to those around him to provide the impetus. First Hamilton Masakadza scored 41 in an opening stand of 67, smashing consecutive boundaries off Kieron Pollard, before being adjudged lbw, perhaps harshly, to Nikita Miller. Then Tatenda Taibu took over, plundering 56 off 54. He managed just 12 from his first 25 balls, before taking a shine to Miller, claiming three consecutive boundary fours in an over worth 18. The pair shared a second-wicket stand of exactly 100 before Taibu was eventually trapped lbw by Pollard. Brendan Taylor followed, run out for one, bringing Elton Chigumbura to the crease. He immediately threw his bat at the ball, picking up a brutal flat six off Sulieman Benn, and was nicely succeeding in upping the rate - Zimbabwe had scored 29 off three overs - when rain brought a temporary halt to proceedings. The short stoppage seemed to unsettle Chigumbura, who skied one straight down the throat of Andre Fletcher upon resumption. Sibanda finally started to show he too was capable of the big shots, with a clipped six off Pollard followed by an immediate four. His hopes of a century were dashed in the penultimate over, though, as Kemar Roach produced a stunning delivery which both shattered Sibanda’s bat and removed his off bail. The West Indies innings began in similar fashion to that of their opponents, with Chris Gayle the aggressor and Adrian Barath the lynchpin. Gayle took a liking to Prosper Utseya, smashing him for a six and a four in one over, before cracking Masakadza for another maximum. Gayle reverse swept Graeme Cremer for four to bring up his 50, but fell lbw to Greg Lamb shortly after. Barath fell the ball after reaching his half century, getting over-ambitious and chopping a shortish Chigumbura delivery onto his stumps with the score on 126. Fletcher, Narsingh Deonarine and Pollard came and went quickly, leaving Chanderpaul to shoulder the burden again for West Indies. He reached 50 with a mistimed sweep, but the run rate rose steadily until he drove Chigumbura for six off a no ball then scrambled back for two off the free hit. He hit eight more off three balls in the 48th over, but then smashed a Masakadza delivery to Chigumbura at long off. That appeared to be the chase over, but Miller creamed Masakadza for six off the first ball of the last over, then sliced a four to third man. Masakadza hit back, though, with wickets off the fourth and fifth balls of the over to seal a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

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Gayle lashes batsmen after Zim loss West Indies captain Chris Gayle has blasted three of his batsmen for losing their cool when they had a simple job to do. More... Gayle lashes batsmen after Zim loss March 05 2010 Georgetown, Guyana - Chris Gayle has taken aim at three of his batsmen, following West Indies' humiliating two-run defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe on Thursday. The West Indies captain slammed Dwayne Smith, Kieron Pollard, and Denesh Ramdin for the soft manner in which they were dismissed, as the home team chased 255 to win from 50 overs. "In the Australia series, I saw improvements in the likes of Pollard and Smith," said Gayle. "To come here ... and the way they went about it, I must say I am very disappointed in those two guys and Ramdin. He added: "Those guys were key for us, and the way they went about it, was a terrible display. It's very disappointing, and sad to see how they went about it." All three batsmen were bowled essaying ill-advised lofty strokes, but Smith's dismissal with four runs required off the last three balls was particularly painful. "Zimbabwe are here to win," said Gayle. "There is no way we can underestimate them. We saw what they have to offer in the Twenty20 International (on Sunday)." He continued: "Zimbabwe have beaten Australia. It is not a team that we are taking for granted. They are here to win just like us, and credit must go to them. "The way they pushed and ran hard between the wickets showed how hungry and determined they are." Gayle cautioned his side that if they fail to respond to the challenge adequately, they run the risk suffering a hugely embarrassing series whitewash. "Well done to Zimbabwe, they did well," he said. "They wanted it more than us. You could see from the way they went about their batting, running between the wickets, and the aggression. "We got off to a good start, but we faltered in the middle, two crucial run outs again, and then some ... I don't know how to describe it ... a terrible display of batting at the end." He said: "We are rebuilding, but if we don't learn, we're still going to get beaten. If we continue like this Zimbabwe will beat us 5-0. No excuses. It was a terrible display, and some immature cricket. "We need to dig ourselves quickly out of this hole. There's a lot of things to put on the table and discuss." Gayle urged long-suffering West Indies fans not to give up hope because the series was still open. He noted West Indies had fallen behind in their previous ODI series against Zimbabwe, and rebounded to win that series 4-1. "We are still going to need that support regardless of the result," he said. "When you do crap, it's definitely crap, and there is no excuse. "Guys have to take responsibility out there in the middle. It is just sad and disappointing." The second ODI will be played on Saturday at the same venue. - Sapa-AFP

[pappu_kanghi]

From Gayle to Fayle(:fail:)

[99.94]

Pollard is one of the most over hyped cricketers in the world

[Sir john]

Pollard can bat at the last 2 to 3 overs.

[Mr Eintstein]

Pollard is one of the most over hyped cricketers in the world

the ipl has done its job well :rock:

[Bradman99]

I don't know, I reckon there is a lot of potential in Pollard. He's on so much moeny in the IPL because he is such an explosive batsman.

[rabinjackman]

Mumbai Indians line up SACHIN TENDULKAR and the others every one else seems to be out of form.....

[Bradman99]

WI vs Zim, ODI series, 2010 Gayle deserves to be criticised a bit also for his performance in the one dayers against Australia where he batted irresponsibly. I know he is an aggresive batsman but that doesn't mean you have to smash every ball.

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2nd ODI vs Zim : Gayle takes Windies past Zimbabwe A determined 88 from captain Chris Gayle led West Indies to a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Saturday to level the one-day series at 1-1. More... Gayle, Deonarine help West Indies level series The Bulletin by Siddhartha Talya March 6, 2010 West Indies 208 for 6 (Gayle 88, Deonarine 65*) beat Zimbabwe 206 (Chigumbura 50, Taylor 47, Miller 4-43) by four wickets Chris Gayle, hurting after the last-over defeat in the first ODI, delivered a gritty all-round performance with support from Narsingh Deonarine to help steer West Indies to a series-levelling win - their first victory in an international fixture since August last year. The pair got together when Zimbabwe's spinners had, yet again, put in an inspired effort to cripple the hosts in their chase of 207. But Gayle restrained himself amid the quick wickets that followed a fiery start, and opened up in timely fashion with Deonarine once Zimbabwe appeared to step off the pedal, to set the stage for a hard-fought victory. The batting backed up a disciplined effort from West Indies' bowlers, led by Nikita Miller's career-best haul. A worry for Gayle will be the performance of the middle order, which he had singled out for criticism in the aftermath of the two-run upset on Thursday. When Gayle fell, stumped off Andre Cremer in the 42nd over, West Indies still needed 39. Though Deonarine made amends for his self-inflicted run-out in the first ODI with a determined half-century, Kieron Pollard again proved irresponsible, holing out to long-on when West Indies appeared to have the match covered. Darren Sammy, one of the two replacements for the axed Denesh Ramdin and Dwayne Smith, too, struggled to hold his nerve - he almost skied one to fine leg - but survived through to the end. West Indies' weakness against spin continued to be exposed as clever variations from Ray Price, who didn't extract turn from the newish ball but altered his pace, fetched him two early wickets in a miserly spell. Adrian Barath failed to spot an arm ball and was trapped lbw, though replays indicated the ball struck him outside the line, and David Bernard, the other new inclusion, was stumped down the leg side. The wickets had an immediate effect on Gayle's approach - he had targeted the offspin of Prosper Utseya, whom he had struck for two sixes - as the focus shifted from an attempt to pierce the field to seeing off a probing spell from the spinners. The plummeting scoring-rate - the second Powerplay yielded just seven runs - showed no signs of revival as Shivnarine Chanderpaul ground to ten runs before being trapped in front by Greg Lamb, followed by Andre Fletcher, who notched up his third duck in four games, bowled off a googly by Cremer. The spinners found plenty of turn with the old ball, beating the left-hand batsmen consistently, but Gayle and Deonarine waited patiently - foregoing any attempt at a boundary for 70 deliveries - before stepping up. While nudging the ball around the in-field, gradually increasing the flow of singles and playing guardedly on a sluggish pitch were the dominant features of their partnership, the cue to accelerate came when the asking-rate had gone past six-an-over. Deonarine initiated the surge, charging down to Cremer in the 38th over and launching him for a six over long-on and slog-sweeping him two balls later for a boundary. The reintroduction of medium-pacer Chris Mpofu into the attack in the next over proved decisive, for Gayle and Deonarine singled him out for treatment, taking 23 off the 39th and the 41st overs, including three boundaries. Zimbabwe will rue their lapses in the field, and the fact that they conceded 16 wides. They could have had Gayle twice off Cremer, but Tatenda Taibu missed two leg-side stumpings just after the West Indies captain had passed fifty. Cremer, however, did finally get Gayle, and Taibu earned a stumping, but only after the advantage had been ceded. Deonarine continued to find the boundary, pulling Brendan Taylor and then lofting Price over mid-off, and played a chanceless innings while retaining his calm to the finish. Zimbabwe, by opting to bat, had adopted a similar strategy as in the first ODI, aiming to put enough on the board to give their four-pronged spin attack a chance to test West Indies. But Kemar Roach helped dismiss the Zimbabwe openers early, running out Visu Sibanda and having Hamilton Masakadza caught at third man. Gayle bowled an excellent spell, conceding just 25 in ten overs, and triggered a middle-order wobble with the wicket of Taylor, which broke an enterprising 59-run stand with Taibu. Three wickets fell in a space of five overs - Miller removed both Stuart Matsikenyeri and Taibu - to undo a hard-laid platform. After the spinners ate into the middle order, Lamb and Elton Chigumbura steadied the innings. Chigumbura, who had initially curbed his attacking instinct, opened up in the 43rd over, lofting Sulieman Benn over mid-off and sweeping him past square leg for successive boundaries. Lamb, though, had struggled for his 23 and succumbed to frustration when he skied Miller to square leg. When Chigumbura, trying to pierce the in-field during the batting Powerplay, fell to Roach the next over, Zimbabwe's hopes of a late onslaught faded, leaving their spinners with a stiffer task than the first game.

[Sir john]

West Indies v Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI, Kingston

Match facts Wednesday, March 10 Start time 09:30 (13:30 GMT) The Big Picture Dwayne Bravo took four wickets to stifle India, India v West Indies, ICC World Twenty20 Super Eights, Lord's, June 12, 2009 Bravo: West Indies will welcome the value addition of their star allrounder © Getty Images Related Links News : Jarvis ruled out with stress fracture Players/Officials: Dwayne Bravo | Darren Bravo | Tatenda Taibu Series/Tournaments: Zimbabwe tour of West Indies Teams: West Indies | Zimbabwe West Indies' downward one-day curve got a much needed lift on Saturday, when the hosts beat Zimbabwe by four wickets to level the series. It was their first victory in an international fixture since August last year, and the relief on their faces was palpable. It was also indicative of how hard the last few months have been for them, but as they approach the third ODI in Kingstown the momentum is still not entirely with them. It means the series is now locked at 1-1 and Wednesday's match will put one team within a win of taking the series. West Indies have struggled so far in the matches against Zimbabwe, labouring to victory in the second game after losing the Twenty20 and the first ODI. What will give them confidence though is the return of the key allrounder Dwayne Bravo, whose presence - despite having not played for nearly three months - will almost certainly lift the team. West Indies' most valuable one-day player, Bravo adds depth to a shaky batting order and his bowling, most notably subtle variations of pace, can do real damage. The comments of head coach Ottis Gibson on Bravo's return underline the influence of the star allrounder. "He has only just come back and already you can feel the energy he brings. He is a very important player and already the players have perked up with him around," was Gibson's assessment, and it shows just how Bravo can strengthen West Indies as a team. On the other side, going into a crucial game, Zimbabwe have been hurt by the departure of fast bowler Kyle Jarvis with a stress fracture. Though Jarvis had not featured in any of the three international games on the tour so far, his departure leaves Zimbabwe's pace bowling reserves looking a little thin. Chris Mpofu leaked 30 runs in four wayward overs during West Indies' win in the second ODI, and although Shingi Masakadza held his nerve in a tense final over in the first game in Guyana, he too was expensive. Zimbabwe's batting fell away in the second ODI, and that was one of the reasons behind their loss. They will hope the surface at Kingstown will be more suitable for batting and look to their top order to come good. Form guide (last five completed matches, most recent first) West Indies - WLLLL Zimbabwe - LWLLL Watch out for... Darren Bravo: If he gets a chance to add to the four ODI caps he picked up during the homes series against India after the World Twenty20 last year, this highly-rated young batsman is one to keep an eye on. After his debut innings, a cameo 19, Darren drew comparisons to Brian Lara, for the similarity in technique as well as looks. The style is there, no doubt, but the substance needs to be forthcoming. Tatenda Taibu: Zimbabwe urgently need him firing in his all-round capacity if they are to combat West Indies' growing confidence. Taibu has shown promising form in the two ODIs so far but needs to get himself in for a big innings should Zimbabwe happen to bat first. The middle order has been shaky and the tourists cannot afford to leave it all to the gung-ho Elton Chigumbura at No. 7. Team news The out-of-form Andre Fletcher, who has six ducks in his previous eight innings for West Indies, and allrounder Dwayne Smith have been dropped. Fletcher's axing means that Denesh Ramdin, the regular wicketkeeper over the past few years, who was benched after a string of poor batting performances, is likely to return to the first XI. Dwayne Bravo will certainly feature, but the management will need to take a call on whether Darren gets a game. Both Adrian Barath and David Bernard jnr have failed to fire so Darren could slot in as opener or No. 3 if one of them makes way. West Indies: (probable) 1 Chris Gayle (capt), 2 Adrian Barath/Darren Bravo, 3 Dwayne Bravo, 4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 5 Narsingh Deonarine, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Sulieman Benn, 10 Nikita Miller, 11 Kemar Roach. The Zimbabweans have not let on about any changes to their XI. Zimbabwe: 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Greg Lamb, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya (capt), 10 Ray Price, 11 Chris Mpofu. Pitch and conditions The pitch at the Arnos Vale Multiplex is notoriously slow and low, which means Zimbabwe's band of merry slow bowlers will again favour themselves against a susceptible West Indian line-up. The weather is forecast to be just fine. The Arnos Vale Multiplex has been kind to West Indies in the 17 matches they have played here. The home team has won 14 of the matches, but two of their three losses have come in the last two ODIs at the ground, where Pakistan won by 59 runs five years ago, and Australia triumphed by 84 runs two years ago. Stats and trivia * West Indies have won 14 of 17 matches played at this venue, but two of their three losses have come in the last two ODIs at the ground. Pakistan beat them by 59 runs five years ago, and Australia won by 84 runs in 2008. * West Indies' run-rate at Arnos Vale is a lofty 4.66. Zimbabwe have yet to play here. Quotes "I have not seen much of Darren, but I know a lot has been said about him. I threw a few balls to him in the nets and he looks a very good player." Ottis Gibson is also aware of what the other Bravo has to offer. Jamie Alter is a senior sub-editor at Cricinfo RSS Feeds: Jamie Alter

bravo boost indies squad. now indies squad looking strong.

[azanian]

It's really sad to see a once powerful cricketing giant struggling against Zimbabwe.

[Watson87]

go Zimbabwe make Serani cry

[ensd2]

It's really sad to see a once powerful cricketing giant struggling against Zimbabwe.

Well WI was a cricket giant but nowaday they are really average like Pakistan . Cricket giant : India , australia , SA . Then Sri lanla Then next level : England , New Zealand , Average : Pakistan and WI Minnows : Zimbabwe , Bang and Ireland

[Watson87]

Well WI was a cricket giant but nowaday they are really average like Pakistan . Cricket giant : India , australia , SA . Then Sri lanla Then next level : England , New Zealand , Average : Pakistan and WI Minnows : Zimbabwe , Bang and Ireland

That's not very nice to compare two upcoming test teams to a minnow:dance:

[Serani]

Well WI was a cricket giant but nowaday they are really average like Pakistan . Cricket giant : India , australia , SA . Then Sri lanla Then next level : England , New Zealand , Average : Pakistan and WI Minnows : Zimbabwe , Bang and Ireland

From a commercial point of view I would say England are a top tier nation in test cricket, most countries would prefer to tour England than Sri Lanka. Btw its from Kingstown not kingston. And ofcourse WI will win, much stronger squad with big bravo and lil bravo added.

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Windies go for series lead in third ODI vs Zim, 2010 More... Windies go for series lead in third ODI KINGSTOWN Resurgent West Indies will chase a crucial series lead in the third one-day international today as they seek to assert their authority over troublesome Zimbabwe. Upset in the opening encounter in Guyana last Thursday, the hosts bounced back to take the second match of the double-header three days later to set up an interesting finish to the five-match series at the Arnos Vale Stadium here. What West Indies will be hoping for, apart from grabbing the series lead, will be a sturdier performance than they have rolled out so far. They never looked the part in losing the one-off Twenty20 by 26 runs while chasing a paltry target of 106, and they resembled amateurs attempting to overhaul 254 in the second ODI they lost by two runs. Even when they eked out a four-wicket win chasing Zimbabwe’s 206 in the second match, they did so with 13 balls remaining while forced to struggle against the tourists’ spinners. New head coach Ottis Gibson said he had impressed on his charges that success never came without effort and said he believed the team would continue to play better as the series progressed. ’We lost the first match of the one-day series and fought back to win the second. I told the players that winning is never easy. They will have to work hard and fight hard for victories,’ Gibson said. ’We have seen signs that we are improving. If we keep doing that we should be good in the matches to come.’ Gibson said, however, he was already looking ahead to the more trying assignments later this year and noted that doing well in the Zimbabwe series was important in the build-up to these series. West Indies play hosts to the ICC Twenty20 Championship and face South Africa in three Tests, two T20s and five ODIs immediately following. ’As a team going forward, this series is very important to us so this week we will be looking to build more momentum,’ Gibson explained. ’But ultimately the most important things in the coming months will be the ICC T20 World Championship at home and then the Digicel Series against South Africa.’ For today’s clash, West Indies will welcome back key all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and his younger brother Darren Bravo, having discarded erratic all-rounder Dwayne Smith and out-of-form Andre Fletcher. Dwayne Bravo is returning from an injury layoff which has kept him out of international action since the Test tour Down Under last December and will undoubtedly strengthen the side. ’It is good to have Dwayne Bravo back in the team. He has only just come back and already you can feel the energy he brings to the team,’ Gibson acknowledged. ’He is a very important player and already the players have perked up with him around. He brings a lot of energy-he’s an athletic fielder, very skilful bowler and can win a match for you with the bat. ’He is a three-dimensional cricketer-batting, bowling and fielding-and certainly strengthens us as a team.’ Captain Chris Gayle, with two half-centuries in as many innings, will lead the batting with Shiv Chanderpaul, in-form Narsingh Deoanrine and young opener Adrian Barath to back him up. Kieron Pollard, with scores of one, five and seven in his last three innings, will need to improve drastically as will his T&T compatriot Denesh Ramdin who struggled with an unbeaten 23 from 36 balls in the T20I and eight in the opening ODI. Zimbabwe will depend on a good start in order to mount a good total and will look to their spinners to defend whatever target they post. Openers Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza will definitely need to get among the runs, as will Tatenda Taibu and all-rounder Elton Chigumbura. Their slow-bowling quartet of off-spinning captain Prosper Utseya, left-armer Ray Price and leg-spinners Greg Lamb and Graeme Cremer will form the thrust of their attack. SQUADS: WEST INDIES - Chris Gayle (captain), Adrian Barath, Sulieman Benn, David Bernard, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy. ZIMBABWE - Prosper Utseya (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Greg Lamb, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor. -CMC

[Sir john]

good opening stand

[Sir john]

gayle gone,score is 49/1 in 17 overs

[ensd2]

WI batsmen sucks against an ordinary bowling attacks , Serani where are your so talented batsmen ?