Heroics

Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI (Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe - 2006)

With the series level at 1-1, Zimbabwe were required to make 17 runs from the final over after having been set a target of 238. Earlier in the innings, there was a collapse which saw Shahadat Hossain take his first international hattrick (Mufambisi, Chigumbura and Utseya), this left Zimbabwe teetering on 7/151. Taylor was at the non-strikers end for the first ball of the final over, with 63 from 67 balls, while Tawanda Mupariwa was on strike, with 32 from 34 balls. Mashrafe Mortaza the bowler.

Mupariwa drove down to long off to take a single, getting Taylor on strike. 16 runs were required from 5 deliveries. Taylor pulled for a massive 6, Zimbabwe requring 10 from 4 balls. Taylor then hit to midwicket, the fielder blocking the single. Mortaza bowled a wide, left by Taylor, Zimbabwe requring 9 from 4 balls. The next delivery was smashed for 4 by Taylor, the third umpire called for to verify it didn't pass over the boundary ropes.

Requring 5 runs from 2 balls, the next delivery saw Mupariwa run out for 33. Taylor mistimed the shot to midwicket, and Mupariwa went for the single. Taylor called him back, realising he was the one that needed to win the game for Zimbabwe. Mupariwa injured himself as he turned around to return, and was forced to get the assistance of the Zimbabwe physio. Blessing Mahwire joined Taylor, Mahwire at the non-strikers end.

Requring 5 from the last delivery, which could only be sealed with a 6, Mortaza bowled full, and Taylor hit it from his pads over midwicket for 6. The scenes following this magnificent victory were simply amazing, with the Zimbabwe players running on the field, and the large crowd roaring in celebration.

Highlights from Taylor's man of the match innings of 79* can be seen below.

Zimbabwe vs Australia, ICC World Twenty20 Game 4 (Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa - 2007)

Taylor set up the victory against Australia starting in the first over of the match, catching Hayden behind the stumps off the bowling of Elton Chigumbura. His match went from strength to strength, when he executed a first class stumping to remove Andrew Symonds. Taylor was forced to wait as Symonds over balanced, and took off the bails at exactly the right time. Taylor had only half a second to execute this, and he did this to perfection.

Later in the Australian innings, Taylor ran out Mitchell Johnson with the gloves on, with only a single stump to aim at.

Opening the batting, Taylor played a calm and calculated innings, attacking only when necessary. After a 31 run stand with Vusi Sibanda and an important partnership with Masakadza, Taylor ended on 60* from 45 balls

Requiring 12 runs from the last over, bowled by Nathan Bracken, the first ball was smashed for 4, a cheeky sweep shot which beat the fielder. After rotating the strike with Elton Chigumbura, Taylor was soon on strike again with 4 runs needed from 2 deliveries. The Zimbabwean players were as one on the boundary line, ready to take the field as soon as the winning runs were scored. Bracket bowled straight to Taylor, who managed to turn it down to fine leg.

Despite Stuart Clark's best diving effort, 4 leg-byes were signalled. Zimbabwe's players raced on to the field, the crowd ecstatic after Zimbabwe got over the world champions. For Taylor's allround fantastic performance, he won the man of the match award.