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SA Composite XI v Zimbabwe: SuperSport Challenge 3rd Match, Day One

Thu, 03/01/2008 - 03:00 — admin

Zimbabwe 256 (Dabengwa 79, Kreusch 3/28), South African Composite XI 47/0 (Kreusch 22*, Akoojee 24*)
After Composite XI won the toss and elected to field, Zimbabwe were put in to bat, and suffered something of a mixed day at the crease. Zimbabwe opted not to play their strongest side for this match - it's possible that, with the series tied up, they're resting some key players ahead of the Pakistan tour, but it seems more likely that this is a quota issue. Whatever the reason, they suffered for it early on, with some cheap wickets falling early to leave the side looking weak on 104/5 - Hamilton Masakadza (1) and Tatenda Tiabu (0) disappointed, although Keith Dabengwa (79) steadied the ship and helped Zimbabwe into respectable territory with some help along the way from Prosper Utseya (28) and Timycen Maruma (23). For the home side, Walters, Kruger and Kreusch took 3 wickets each on the way to bowling Zimbabwe out for 256. All things considered, Zim will be happy with that score, but with some notable batsmen either not firing or not playing at all, the total was still some way short of what could have been achieved.

Composite faced 15 overs of Zimbabwean bowling before the close of play, but again with big guns like Gary Brent not in the match and the attack heavily reliant on spin, Zim were unable to make any early headway. Composite closed the day on 47 without loss.

This one's far from being a one-sided contest, but with Zimbabwe playing a weakened side it's up to them to prove themselves - which as yet, they haven't done in any convincing manner. Full scorecard for the day below the cut, and we'll be back tomorrow for Day Two.
Sides:
SA Composite XI: W Bossenger (captain, wicketkeeper), M Akoojee, JP Kreusch, AP McLaren, PJ Koortzen, RR Jeggels, J Symes, AK Kruger, T Tshabalala, BD Walters, S Mjekula
Zimbabwe: H Masakadza, V Sibanda, CJ Chibhabha, T Taibu (wicketkeeper), SC Williams, P Utseya (captain), KM Dabengwa, E Chigumbura, T Maruma, RW Price, CB Mpofu

Zimbabwe 1st innings
H Masakadza	c Bossenger b Walters	        1
V Sibanda	c Bossenger b Walters	        25
CJ Chibhabha	c Bossenger b Kreusch	        45
T Taibu	        c Bossenger b Kruger	        0
SC Williams	c Koortzen b Tshabalala	        28
KM Dabengwa	c Bossenger b Kreusch	        79
E Chigumbura	c McLaren b Kruger	        5
P Utseya	lbw b Walters	                38
RW Price	c Bossenger b Kruger	        7
T Maruma	c & b Kreusch	                23
CB Mpofu	not out	                        0
    Extras	(lb 3, nb 2)	                5
    Total	(all out; 78.1 overs; 330 mins)	256

Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Masakadza, 3.1 ov), 2-46 (Sibanda, 11.3 ov), 
3-51 (Taibu, 12.5 ov), 4-88 (Chibhabha, 26.1 ov), 5-104 (Williams, 29.4 ov), 
6-111 (Chigumbura, 32.5 ov), 7-187 (Utseya, 50.6 ov), 8-217 (Price, 59.4 ov), 
9-255 (Dabengwa, 76.6 ov), 10-256 (Maruma, 78.1 ov)

Bowling	        O	M	R	W	Econ	
S Mjekula	13	1	30	0	2.30	
BD Walters	13	3	38	3	2.92	(1nb)
AK Kruger	19	4	59	3	3.10	
JP Kreusch	8.1	2	28	3	3.42	
T Tshabalala	19	3	63	1	3.31	(1nb)
J Symes	        6	0	35	0	5.83


South African Composite XI 1st innings
JP Kreusch	not out	                        22
M Akoojee	not out	                        24
    Extras	(lb 1)	                        1
    Total	(0 wickets; 15 overs)	        47

To bat: W Bossenger, AP McLaren, PJ Koortzen, RR Jeggels, J Symes, AK Kruger, 
T Tshabalala, BD Walters, S Mjekula 

Bowling	        O	M	R	W	Econ	
CB Mpofu	4	1	16	0	4.00	
E Chigumbura	7	1	25	0	3.57	
RW Price	4	1	5	0	1.25

Comments

Wed, 02/01/2008 - 23:36 — jimbo (not verified)

Again the composition of this side is very poor..politics coming into play again..Wheres taylor and brent :[ . i hope to god they are resting them, If zim are to get back into the test fold this 8-3 quota is not gonna help in their favour.

lets look at the facts

Keith dabengwa is not a frontline batsman and to judge him on logan cup perfomances against mediocre sides is not a good indication of quality. Vusi sibanda though a good one day player nowadays is not a first class batsman he only averages 22 in first class cricket and has one century, This compared to brendon taylor who averages close to 30 and has four centuries including a double!!!!!

Taibu,masacadza deserve their places in zim's first class line-up on merit as does chigumbura, I cant think of any other frontline batsmen who do though.

Thu, 03/01/2008 - 00:27 — brmtaylor.com admin (not verified)

Sean Williams deserves his place in the team.

I agree with your comments on Dabengwa entirely. He is not a great allrounder either - he hasn't bowled once in the SuperSport Challenge.

Thu, 03/01/2008 - 21:23 — jimbo (not verified)

good on dabengwa for getting 79, though i fear that the zim selectors will feel that one swallow makes a summer and dabengwa will be in the squad like matsikenyeri for years to come just because of getting one good score
I mean no ill on these players but they are not consistent enough to be perservered with long term..Matsikenyeri took about 40 one day internationals just to make his first 50
I believe in fairness and this works both ways, There are several white players which were right to be discarded such as the awfull piet rinke who failed so abjectly in the west indies..Keegan meth came into the side too quickly but he has some sort of future if he gets enough domestic matches under his belt.
Duffin SHOULD be in this zimbabwe side....He is a BETTER FIRST CLASS BATSMAN THAN SIBANDA, he isnt flashy and can take the shine off the new ball, Not suited to the one day internationals but a real grafter with a good technique at first class level

Fri, 04/01/2008 - 00:08 — Jagdish (not verified)

greg strydon needs two be in the middle order look at his first class average its 40 and got a fine hundred for club bulawayo why is he not in the team dabengwa is a clown why isnt b taylor in the team brent rainford why 3 spinners its a joke i thought we have to select a better team its just wrong .