Injured Taylor misses Zimbabwe win

Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on February 18, 2008

Zimbabwe beat Cape Cobras by 39 runs at Harare Sports Club but were without star batsman Brendan Taylor. Taylor was forced to miss the match due to a hand injury, which he sustained when he fell during practice. An X-ray ruled out any serious damage to his hand, which is badly bruised and swollen. He will receive ongoing treatment to ease the swelling and regain hand movement.

In the match, Zimbabwe batted first and the openers got the team off to a good start, Vusi Sibanda scoring 33 and Hamilton Masakadza 39. Sean Williams, who has so far been Zimbabwe's best batsman of the tournament, was caught out on 10. Tatenda Taibu was out for a duck.

Regis Chakabva continued his solid form with 24, his highest score of the tournament. What is pleasing is that he has made a start in each of the games, and has been reliable in the middle order to build a partnership with. It was Elton Chigumbura and Keith Dabengwa who did the damage towards the end. Chigumbura scored a half century at better than a run a ball, including one six, while Dabengwa also had a strike rate above 100. Captain Prosper Utseya, who has returned from injury, and Ray Price were the unbeaten batsmen.

Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu and Brendan Taylor, the three omissions, were replaced by Utseya, Tawanda Mupariwa and Keith Dabengwa respectively.

Gary Brent was the pick of the bowlers, with 3/22, taking the prize scalps of Herschelle Gibbs and Justin Kemp. Mupariwa continued his good form from the Pakistan tour with 2/21 from 6 overs. Both Chigumbura and Price took a wicket, while Utseya snared 2/34 from 9 overs.

Despite a half century from Justin Kemp, the Cobras fell well short of the 221 run target, all out for 181.