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Cricket tri-series gets underway

Sport
The unofficial tag of the tri-nation Twenty20 (T20) series will count for nothing as both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will be eager to get their respective campaigns off to a winning start in the opening match at Harare Sports Club tomorrow. The two teams are expected to give it their best shot in what will surprisingly […]

The unofficial tag of the tri-nation Twenty20 (T20) series will count for nothing as both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will be eager to get their respective campaigns off to a winning start in the opening match at Harare Sports Club tomorrow.

The two teams are expected to give it their best shot in what will surprisingly be only their second T20 match against each other since the inception of the shortest format of the game in 2003.

The Tigers, as Bangladesh are affectionately known, comfortably won the lone match by 43 runs at the Khulna Divisional Stadium in November 2006.

No doubt the pressure will squarely be on Zimbabwe this time around as they have no excuse not to deliver against a team that they outclassed in the lone Test and one-day international (ODI) series last year.

Brendan Taylor and his men also have the knowledge of local conditions as well as how the wicket is likely to play as they aim to break a winless run in T20s dating back to the shock away win away over West Indies in a low-scoring match in February 2010.

Lack of match fitness will be Zimbabwes major concern as they have not played since their comprehensive whitewash during the tour of New Zealand in January and February.

With veteran spinner Ray Price and wicketkeeper batsman out due to injury, this is expected to pave way for the selection of Regis Chakabva and leg spinner Graeme Cremer, who played a blinder in yesterdays opening warm-up match at the Harare Country Club.

Cremer, who has been in recent times been overlooked in T20 cricket, grabbed four wickets for just 14 runs in his four overs to restrict Bangladesh to 126 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.

The 25-year-old spinner returned to complete an all-round display this time with the bat by blasting a quick-fire 30 off 24 balls to steer Zimbabwe to a three-wicket win. In the second match, opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza smashed an impressive century as Zimbabwes Select cricket side beat Bangladesh by 19 runs.

Masakadza vindicated his sides decision to bat first after winning the toss by cruising to 102 runs off 60 balls to steer Zimbabwe to 175 for five in their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Bangladesh never got close as seamers Keegan Meth and Shingi Masakadza shared two wickets apiece to restrict Bangladesh to 156 for seven in their 20 overs.

Probable Zimbabwe team: Brendan Taylor (captain), Vusi Sibanda, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura, Malcolm Waller, Regis Chakabva, Brian Vitori/Chris Mpofu, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis Bangladesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Mahmudullah Riyad (vice-captain), Tamim Iqbal, Junaed Siddiqui, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful, Jahurul Islam, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Mohammad Elias, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Forhad Reza, Nazmul Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Abul Hasan.