Cremer, Chakabva script Zimbabwe's great escape
The eighth-wicket pair blunt West Indies for 48.4 overs on final day after Raza heroics; visitors clinch series 1-0
The eighth-wicket pair blunt West Indies for 48.4 overs on final day after Raza heroics; visitors clinch series 1-0
Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Sreshth Shah
4.23pm And as Jason Holder collects the winning trophy for the 1-0 series win to West Indies, it's time for us to sign off as well. An epic Test that did not pan out exactly how we imagined the finish to be, but what great batting from the hosts over day four and five, to save the match. That concludes this exhilarating series, and we hope you had as much fun as we did in bring it to you. On behalf of Shashank, it's Sreshth saying good bye!
Jason Holder, the West Indies captain: "Feels good (to win first series as Test captain), we played well over past few months, but didn't cross the line over the series. Credit goes to all the players in the dressing room. Slightly disappointed not being able to bowl them out in the second innings. They batted well too, and few decisions didn't go our way, but that's how it goes. We got lucky in our innings as well, to be honest that's how the game works out. But credit to Zimbabwe, they played good cricket and pushed us. I want them to do better, so world cricket becomes more competitive. It wasn't an easy series at all. Credit to Cremer, their spinners got wickets as well. Reviewing is difficult you know, on TV it looks pretty straight but when ball-tracking comes up you see something totally different. Fifteen seconds to make the decision feels like five seconds and it's upto the keeper and the bowler to make the decision. I'm really pleased in our team's direction. We're off to train in Australia next before the NZ series. The conditions there will be quite like England, so it's important to get acclimatised there and give it our best shot."
Devendra Bishoo is the Man of the Series. He says: "Very happy, especially after the poor show in England. This second Test the pitch was slower than the earlier one. When ball got older, it got further slow. Got tough, and not spinning as much either. I'm working a lot on my variations, my googlies, more now. Pretty happy with the series and looking forward to New Zealand."
Sikandar Raza is the Man of the Match. He says: "I think we've put a huge emphasis on our fitness (on his heavy workload in the Test), and for it to show in the middle is very rewarding. And to be rewarded like this is certainly humbling. I wasn't aware of the records, but having my name next to Jacques Kallis is quite humbling and proud. We've got a Test coming up in December, but if I had to be honest I had an awful first Test. My teammates and I expected me to do better, and we had some goals to achieve in this Test, and we did so. We played out of our skin to get a result out of it. Gives us the confidence. About the poor reviews, (jokingly) I'm never reviewing anymore!"
Graeme Cremer: "Feels good to draw after 12 years because we came from behind. Felt good that our team batted when their backs were against the wall. A couple of missed opportunities though, we dropped a few catches and the wicket wasn't doing as much as we expected. Dropped matches always have an outcome to the Test, and this match could've been much different if we held on to them. Our poor use of reviews in this Test is something we will have a look at. Raza was exceptional, especially with the ball. It's not his job to take a five-for, but he did. And he didn't give away many runs. And then with the bat, just shows how good an all-rounder he is. And as for Chakabva, he was short on runs and it was good to see him get a good score. In our team we don't just have 1-2 people putting their hands up, but more like five and six."
4.10pm Time for the presentations.
A bunch of impressive performance through this Test: Hamilton Masakadza's 147, Kieran Powell's 90, Shane Dowrich's maiden ton, Holder's second hundred and so on, but the Test belonged to a certain Sikandar Raza, who became only the second Test cricketer to score 80 plus in both innings and take a five-wicket haul.
4.06pm Some decisions not going West Indies' way, with Cremer's first-ball caught-behind or the two lbw appeals off Chase's bowling, but they only have themselves to blame for it. Used their reviews poorly too early in the innings, and perhaps it cost them a Test win here. But, Moor and Raza yesterday, and the Chakabva-Cremer blockathon deserve credit as well. The unbroken partnership of 91 lasted 48.4 overs and ensured the hosts secured the draw rather comfortably. Presentation and post-match reactions up soon.
musa: "interesting to note that some decisions not going Zim's way too.. Holder LBW yesterday. " -- True, a rough Test for umpires Dharmasena and Fry, but Zimbabwe too lost their reviews on some poor appeals.
Prosper Tafadzw: "So will Zimbabwe get points for the draw. like on the test rankings?" -- Yes, a draw will earn them points because their opponents were ranked higher.
3.51pm There it is! Handshakes all around. It's a draw. West Indies seal the series 1-0, but what a fighting effort from Zimbabwe's middle and lower order. Both camps look happy with the result here. The backroom staff are shake hands now. Klusener, Streak are in the ground congratulating their boys. Ntini looks delighted too. First draw in 12 years for Zimbabwe, and the first time they avoid a loss since 2013 (10 Tests).
Sathyen G: "How long can this game continue before the captains decide to call it off? They just seem to be going through the motions and there's no point in playing on when there is no intent for a win" -- One hour or 15 overs (whatever is earlier)
Kieran Powell is going to get a bowl here.
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The eighth-wicket pair blunt West Indies for 48.4 overs on final day after Raza heroics; visitors clinch series 1-0
From allowing Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich to put on 212 for the eighth wicket to the soft dismissals of Solomon Mire and Craig Ervine, day four in Bulawayo didn't go to plan for the hosts