[Ahmed_B]

The tone of this Write-up shows how important this series is for ZIM.

Article From the The Zimbabwe Independant
"Don't stretch our patience too far"
IndependentSport View By Darlington Majonga, 25 Nov'2006

"...What must be worrying KC more, however, is the failure by his side to maintain consistency.

The last ODI series against Bangladesh — which Zimbabwe eventually won 3-2 — as well as the poor show at the ICC Champions Trophy just went over the boundary to prove the yoyo disposition of KC’s boys.

Still, we have all been patient. We have given the boys time to find their footing and mature in the international thing.

They have to a certain extent found their footing, but maturity still seems ages away.

One thing that no one disputes is that Zimbabwe are massively talented, but so far they have not been good enough. And can they be good enough?

So far, the cricket fraternity remains on tenterhooks, unsure how Zimbabwe will cope.

When will Zimbabwe start winning again (against top opposition)? When will Zimbabwe become competitive again?

These are just but a few questions the cricket fraternity — at home and abroad — would want answered.

However, for now, everyone wants to know: will Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh again?

Bangladesh is a tough examination for KC and his charges.

Before the player crisis in 2004, this is a question no one would have imagined.

Now skipper Prosper Utseya and his colleagues will certainly be hard-pressed to show us they are coming of age or at least learning with every game that passes.

Victory over Bangladesh had become routine for Zimbabwe until March 10 2004 when the Tigers skimmed to their maiden ODI win at Harare Sports Club since joining the elite Test league four years earlier.

A Bangladesh total of 238 seemed modest for Zimbabwe to chase — though Streak, Douglas Hondo, Sean Ervine, Grant Flower and Raymond Price had been expected to do a better job with the ball.

As Grant sauntered from the pavilion to open the innings for Zimbabwe, defeat at the hands of Bangladesh seemed inconceivable.

And no one might have panicked when Grant was trapped leg-before on two after facing just five balls: Zimbabwe still had Stuart Carlisle, Tatenda Taibu, Dion Ebrahim, Ervine and Streak to look to.

But by the time Streak became the seventh wicket on 30 in the 45th over with Zimbabwe on 199, the unimaginable was about to happen.

The moment Hondo was clean-bowled by Tareq Aziz after facing one ball, Price and Blessing Mahwire found it challenging to muster nine runs to win from the remaining four balls.

It was a shock.

This appeared only a slip-up resulting from complacency on the part of the experienced Zimbabwe side that most people thought was a one-off thing and probably the Tigers felt the same way as well.

But that defeat was to be the straw that broke the camel’s back....."

Full Story: The Zim Independent