By Leonard Ratnayake.
Trent Bridge was lit up with Zimbabwean fans as they applauded their home team for playing against England after 22 long years. I guess the result was not a concern, but obviously, seeing their national team in flesh on English soil was nostalgic.
Pope, Duckett, and Crawley got excellent time in the middle, against the Zimbabwean bowlers as the trio made stroke filled centuries to help England to a massive score of 565 runs for six wickets, in which they recorded 493 for 3 wickets on day one.
No doubt it was a leather hunt for the African team, but that’s the English approach in the modern-day test cricket.
Pope 171, Duckett 140, and Crawley 124 spent quality time before their big test against team India in the 5 Test series, which will test their skill levels against spin.
Zimbabwean does have spinners in the class of Sikanda⁸r Raza and Victor Nyauchi, but the Indian spinners are a different brand.
Seamer Blessing Muzarabani, who generates plenty of pace with his high arm action, had three scalps in the wickets box for 143, however, the rest of the Zimbabwean bowlers had a taste a typical leather hunt with aching legs and sore knees.
Zimbabwean batters made 265 in the first innings with Brian Bennett enjoying a wonderful century made on English soil, 139 whilst Craig Evans made 42. Sadly, the rest of the Zimbabwe batters failed against England’s quality seamers. However, it was the 22 year old off spinner Shohaib Bashir who recorded the best bowling figures of 3 wickets for 62.
Obviously, England enforced the follow-on, and the visitors slumped to 255 all out.
22 year-old Bashir playing in his 16th test head lined the final day with 6 wickets for 81, giving the off spinner his 4th five for in test cricket, but importantly, a 9 wickets haul before his trial against the Indian batters this summer.
For Zimbabwe, the learning curve of playing in the month of May under semi winter clouds is a unique experience for sure.
Be the first to comment