One Day International Series -- Bangladeshi demolition of Zimbabwe to continue

Bangladesh vs. Zimbabwe

ODI Series Odds

Wednesday, November 4, 9pm

Bangladesh –400
Zimbabwe +300

Following the pants-down-around-your-ankles-in-public humiliation of Zimbabwe in the penultimate match of the five-match series, Bangladesh can now swoop in for the kill in the final match of the series.

Non-followers of this series will be as amazed at the score line of the last match which saw the Zims rolled for 44, and a total which saw four wickets fall before reached however die hard cricket followers won’t be all that surprised.

That’s because Zimbabwe now own three of the five lowest scores in international cricket – Pakistan owns one after capitulating for 43 against the West Indies way back in 1993 and Canada owns the other rolled for 36 by Sri Lanka in 2003.

To say that Zimbabwe’s effort was woeful and a mistake damaging for the public perception of cricket is a gargantuan understatement historically only comparable to when England sent Australia to the wrong beach in World War I and the reality TV series Big Brother.

Shakib Al Hasan, who has made it his life mission to destroy any cricketing credibility Zimbabwe might have, claimed career best figures of 3/8 off 6.5 overs adding to this season’s 3/11 off 10 overs and 3/15 off eight overs.

While Zimbabwe are trying to spin the loss into something that could potentially benefit their team, everyone is fully aware that a loss like that takes some time to get over.

When a team of 11 cricketers can’t break a total of 50 runs, something is horribly wrong and it wasn’t the pitch. In fact the pitch was quite good, it was the talent that was bad henceforth the word talent and Zimbabwe should never be used in the same sentence again. Ever.

Bangladesh can now finish off Zimbabwe with a strong performance in Chittagong. If they get the chance to bat first they should do so to allow their batsmen time at the crease to build an innings of substance, a total they can be proud of and a total that will look formidable against the top tier international teams.

While the Bangladesh coach, Aussie ex-pat Jamie Siddons, harps on about a winning attitude, the proof that this team is any good will come later on when they face the likes of Sri Lanka and India on the sub-continent. Until then, Bangladesh cricket is still minnow-like in its appearance and performances.