West Indies, Zimbabwe chase elusive win for final berth

ESPNCricinfo: West Indies are yet to cross the line and win a match in Bulawayo on this tour after their tie against Zimbabwe and one-run defeat to Sri Lanka. 

That leaves them second on the points table, with seven points, while the hosts are third on four, with their points coming from that tie and the rain-ruined encounter against Sri Lanka. Both teams are chasing that winning feeling, and this match is essentially a semi-final, with the winner guaranteed a spot in Sunday’s final.

The statistics favour West Indies: they have three of the top five wicket-takers and the top two run-scorers in this tri-series in their squad. But both teams’ recent form has been unpredictable and inconsistent, and West Indies may well be without strike bowler Shannon Gabriel after he limped off with a hamstring niggle during the game against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, making this a difficult match to call.

The Zimbabweans floundered in the tournament opener, stooping to an eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka, but the green, seaming conditions they encountered in Harare are a world away from the more benign surface they are likely to find on Friday. Zimbabwe will also be able to draw confidence from their last match against West Indies, as well as the comfort of playing at home in front of a supportive crowd.

Zimbabwe’s best hope may be to play on West Indies’ performance anxiety and build pressure on their lower middle order. Captain Graeme Cremer made no secret of his intention to starve West Indies’ batsmen of boundaries as a route towards building pressure at the beginning of this series, and if his batsmen are able to cobble together a score, scoreboard pressure in the chase may be Zimbabwe’s best way to find a route past West Indies.

West Indies’ Nos. 5 to 8 have scored 224 runs at 22.40 in the series, and both times that they chased they were unable to fully close off the game. Whether they are setting or chasing, the West Indies’ lower order will have to find a way to build on the platforms handed to them by the top four, and deal with pressure situations in unfamiliar conditions.

It’s all very well formulating and sticking to a bowling plan, but if Zimbabwe’s fielding is not up to scratch that could all be for nought. Before their dramatic comeback, Zimbabwe missed multiple chances in their last game against West Indies, and coach Heath Streak pointed out that, as proud as he was of the fight they showed, this was one area to improve upon. The cliché ‘catches win matches’ should be ringing in Zimbabwe’s ears.