Mon, 28 Feb 2011 - Canada vs Zimbabwe, World Cup 2011, 12th match Group A - Bulletin

Canada crumble against Zimbabwean spinners

Zimbabwean spinners helped their team to score a comfortable 175 run victory over Canada in the world cup group A game played at Nagpur.

Canadian batsmen combusted meekly to the spin options of Zimbabwe as whole of the team was all out for 123 runs while chasing a target of 299 runs that was set by 181 run third wicket partnership of Tatenda Taibu and Craig Ervine after Elton Chigumbura had opted to bat first.

The entire Canadian batting line-up fell to spin bowlers with left spinner Raymond Price and leg spinner Graig Cremer taking three wickets each while off-spinners Prosper Utseya and GA Lamb getting two scalps each.

Canadian downfall was started by Price, opening the bowling, taking first three wickets with team score at 7 runs.

He clean bowled John Davison for duck and followed it with two wickets off consecutive balls by catching 16-year old Mishra off his own bowling and forcing Canadian captain Ashish Bagai to sweep only to be caught at short fine-leg.

Prosper Utseya got into act by accounting for Hansra and dangerous Rizwan Cheema and giving virtually nothing away.

While Price figures read eight overs, four maidens, 16 runs and three wickets, Utseya has two wickets for 24 runs in his seven overs.

Young spinners Cremer and Lamb didn’t let the Canadian batsmen to off the hook and made their stay at the crease very difficult by landing the ball consistently in right areas.

Inexperienced batting line up of Canada had no answers to the spin quartet of Zimbabwe turning the battle of the minnows a lop-sided affair.

Earlier, Zimbabwe overcame early hiccups to post a big score of 298 runs thanks to Taibu and Ervine who put together a crucial partnership of 181 runs for the third wicket.

Taibu was unlucky missing out on the century by two runs when he tried to slog sweep impressive left arm Balaji Rao only to be caught in the deep.

He alongwith left handed Ervine had put Zimbabwe in strong position playing some terrific shots to all corners of the wicket. They were quick to run between the wicket having fielders and bowlers at bay.

While Taibu was innovative and sublime in his 99 ball 98 run innings that included nine fours, his partner Ervine used his feet to the spinners with precision on his way to 85 coming off 81 balls punctuated with six hits to the fence and two sixes.

But both fell in a quick succession triggering a mini collapse thanks to aggressive leg-spin bowling of Indian born Balaji Rao.

Rao, who has represented India A in late nineties, got turn and bounce to out-fox Zimbabwean batsmen getting four wickets for 57 runs and was instrumental in keeping the score under 300.

Zimbabwean late order made sure that their team puts up a good total by contributing some important runs in last ten overs.

Sean Williams (30), Prosper Utseya (26) and Greg Cremer (22), all scored at a good pellet to put their team in a strong position at the end of first innings.

Canadian new ball bowlers were disciplined to start with getting wickets upfront and coming back in the end to halt Zimbabwean surge.

Khuram Chohan removed Brendon Taylor off first ball of the match and had Utseya caught in his comeback spell to complete his ten over spell in which he conceded only 44 runs.

His partner HS Baidwan was also miserly and amongst the wickets getting Charles Coventry leg before early and castling Cremer in his last spell.

Spinners put Zimbabwe on top

Canada were reeling at 72 for the loss of six wickets at the end of twenty five while chasing a mammoth target of 299 runs set by Zimbabwe.

Canadian batsmen had no answers to spin department of Zimbabwe with all six going out to the slow bowlers.

While left arm spinner Raymond Price took three wickets, off-spinner Prosper Utseya added to the woes of Canada by removing two batsmen.

Taibu, Ervine boost Zimbabwe to 298 runs

Zimbabwe has set a victory target of 299 runs in front of Canada after opting to bat first in the World Cup group A match played at Nagpur.

After reeling at 7 for the loss of two wickets in first 4 overs, Tatenda Taibu and Craig Ervine put together a crucial partnership of 181 runs for the third wicket that helped the team to a big score.

Taibu was unlucky missing the century by two runs when he tried to slog sweep impressive left arm Balaji Rao only to be caught in the deep.

He alongwith left handed Ervine had put Zimbabwe in strong position playing some terrific shots to all corners of the wicket. They were quick to run between the wicket having fielders and bowlers at bay.

While Taibu was innovative and sublime in his 99 ball 98 run innings that included nine fours, his partner Ervine used his feet to the spinners with precision on his way to 85 coming off 81 balls punctuated with six hits to the fence and two sixes.

But both fell in a quick succession triggering a mini collapse thanks to aggressive leg-spin bowling of Indian born Balaji Rao.

Rao, who has represented India A in late nineties, got turn and bounce to out- © eContent.in