Zimbabwe v India: Zimbabwe player ratings

Zimbabwe displayed yet another sub-standard performance today and suffered their second straight loss in the three-match series. The home side inflicted a demoralising 8 wicket loss to visitors India. After a loss in the series opener, a fighting effort was being expected from the hosts. But, the Zimbabweans failed miserably and gave a even worse performance today. Batting first, they were bowled out for just 126 after suffering a collapse. Later, in the day, their bowlers were made to look completely ineffective as the Indians batsman completed the chase without much difficulties, winning the game with 8 wickets in hand.

1. Peter Moor – 1.5/10:

Peter Moor has been a real disappointment for Zimbabwe this series. Ever since his debut, he has constantly failed to make a mark. He started the series on a bad note and should have perhaps batted with more patience today. Coming in to bat at number three today, he found it really difficult to deal with the highly effective swing bowling by Barinder Sran and fell cheaply for a single run in the 8th over.

2. Chamu Chibhabha – 4/10:

Chamu Chibhabha started out really well and looked confident against the bowlers. He seemed to have found the way to counter attack the bowling duo of Sran and Kulkarni. But, the right hander’s stay at the crease was shortened before he could get going and make any impact on the game. He was foxed by Kulkarni with an in-swinger and was trapped LBW in the 10th over. In the second innings, he bowled very an economical spell of 1/31 and did not let the Indians fly away during the chase.

3. Hamilton Masakadza – 1.5/10:

Masakadza, the burly right-hander, has completely failed to utilise his experience. He was the first wicket to fall today and returned to the pavilion with just 9 runs to his name. The former skipper looked shaky right from the start, playing out Sran for no runs in the opening over of the match. An authoritative punch through the extra cover region off Kulkarni in the 4th over showed some signs of confidence coming from him. But, unfortunately, he was scalped by Sran in the very next over.

4. Vusi Sibanda – 8/10:

Vusi Sibanda was the lone saving grace for Zimbabwe today. The right-hander resurrected the Zimbabwean innings after they had collapsed to 39/3 initially. Sibanda dealt with the spinner really well and played a fighting knock. He led the road to recovery for Zimbabwe with an important 67 runs stand with Sikandar Raza before they collapsed again terribly.

5. Sikandar Raza – 4/10:

Sikandar Raza was the only batsman apart from Sibanda who looked to have the confidence to play in the middle. He batted sturdily with the defiant Sibanda and stitched a match-defining partnership. But, he was pretty slow with his run scoring rate, consuming 41 balls for the 16 runs he contributed to the total. While his approach can be justified with the condition Zimbabwe were in when he was batting but the pressure to help the run rate eventually became the reason for his dismissal.

6. Elton Chigumbura – 1.5/10:

The hero of the last match turned out to be a flop today. The situation in which he came into bat was similar to the first ODI. But, the all-rounder could not replicate his past performance. With a well-set and confident looking Sibanda at the other side, he had a wonderful opportunity today. However, he simply failed to make today’s game count and failed to make a mark.

7. Richmond Mutumbami (wk) – 1.5/10:

Richmond Mutumbami, the wicket-keeper batsman, had a dull day today. He came into bat during a collapse and could make only 2 runs before getting cleaned up by Jasprit Bumrah.

8. Graeme Cremer (C) – 2.5/10:

Skipper Graeme Cremer had a big responsibility today with the bat. But, ironically, there was not much which he could have done as the wickets kept crumbling around him. The skipper, however, could have added few more valuable runs to the total if he had opted for an aggressive approach after realising that his tail-enders won’t survive in the middle for long. On-field, he made a couple of crucial errors; under-using his bowlers and showing a lack of aggression.

9. Tendai Chatara – 2.5/10:

Tendai Chatara, the right-arm seamer, was rendered completely ineffective by the Indian batting trio of KL Rahul, Karun Nair and Ambati Rayudu. He could not create any impact with the new ball and was very simple to negotiate, giving away runs easily. He finished the day with 0/40 in his 8 overs spell.

10. Taurai Muzarabani – 4/10:

Taurai Mazarabani can call himself really unlucky today as did not get much opportunity today with the ball. The right armer got only three overs to bowl at the start of the innings including a maiden before being pulled out of the attack.