ICC World Cup, 2011: Zimbabwe crush Netherlands in warm up game
The ICC World Cup, 2011 is less than two weeks away, and warm up matches for the mega event are underway.
Two minnows of the tournament: Zimbabwe and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753 faced-off in Dubai on 8 February, 2011, with Zimbabwe comprehensively winning the game.
Batting first, the African side posted a decent total of 249 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. In reply Ireland were all out for 134.
Zimbabwe captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Elton-Chigumbura-c55937 won the toss and elected to bat first on a placid pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Brendon Taylor and Charles Coventry came out to open the innings.
Coventry was the first man to go, out LBW for 8 runs to Mudassar Bukhari. Regis Chakabva came in at number 3 and looked confident right from the start. Taylor on the other end was also going strong. The two played with authority and made good use of the
power-play in the first 15 overs of the innings. The pair posted 67 runs to the total, before Chakabva was dismissed for 29 runs, caught by Alexei Kerveeze off Bradley Kruger.
Former captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tatenda-Taibu-c92882 walked in next and played with authority. Brendon Taylor was the next man to be dismissed, caught and bowled by Pietar Seelaar on 56 runs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915’s dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse; apart from Taibu none of other batsmen managed to stay at the crease for long.
Craig Ervine managed just 10 runs and was caught by Seelaar off Bernard Loots. He was followed by Elton Chigumbura who managed just 11 runs. Taibu also fell for 30 runs, clean bowled by Bukhari.
With Zimbabwe reeling at 7 for 158, Prosper Utsaya and Graeme Cremer put up an excellent stand for the 8th wicket, taking the score past 200. Utsaya was out LBW to Loots for 22. Cremer remained unbeaten at 42 as Zimbabwe ended their innings at
249 for the loss of 8 wickets.
Loots and Bukhari both claimed 3 wickets for Ireland.
Ireland’s chase did not start ideally, Eric Szwarczynski was
dismissed for nought off the bowling of Ed Rainsford. Next man in: Tom de Grooth managed just 4 runs from 17 balls. De Grooth was dismissed by Chris Mpofu.
Ireland’s middle-order was not able to handle the consistent line and length of the Zimbabwe bowlers.
Bas Zuiderent was cleaned up by Chigumbura for 17 runs, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wesley-Barresi-c96487 was dismissed for 16 runs by Chigumbura. Kruger and Mudasar Bukhari tried to resurrect the innings but failed to put up a lasting fight.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045.
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