Sizzling! Full delivery outside off and Taylor crashes it to the cover boundary. Zimbabwe win by 8 wickets.
Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 6th Match at Harare, , Jun 07 2010 - Ball by Ball Commentary
What stood out not only in this game but in all their wins so far in this tournament is how calm, collected, clinical, professional and in control they have been. The chases have been all done without any hiccups. Like a team that knows how to win.
Bonyongo: "Best of all - I think we can now stop using the term "shock win" when Zim wins a game....we're a decent team, and we can win games just like anybody else...fantastic!"
Nelson Maqandisa: "After this encouraging display by Zimbabwe, i hope the authorities will give us a half working day on Wednesday to watch the final like they did when Zimbabwe played Brazil in an international friendly soccer match."
Allen Robinson: "Call me a fair weather supporter but if Zim continue to play like this I will definitely be coming back to watch."
Dave: "This has been a clinical show up by Zim, just hope and prays that they can keep the consistency going into the final! None the less, good, spirited all round performance! Mugabe can be proud. "
Bryan Morton: "For those of us who have continued to support Zim through the hard times - *this* is the payback. Hugely proud of the guys for the way they've performed this series."
Don't know whether this is true but here is Kangon: "Actually Sri Lanka hate playing against Zimbabwe on 7th of the month, I guess.They've lost against Zim in 7th Nov 1998, 7th April 2003 and today, 7th Jun 2010."
Please to hang on for the quotes from the post-match ceremony.
Dilshan "They bowled well in the middle overs. When the ball got old. We were short of 30 runs. As I said in the morning, 260 would have been a good score to defend. Our bowlers did well. Main two bowlers didn't play today; they will come back for the final. Angelo also might be fit and make our middle order stronger. We can learn from this game for the final.:
Chigumbura: "Very happy. Fantastic performance from the batsmen, especially BT. We struggled with the new ball seamers but the spinners have bowled really well all through this season. We seamers have to work hard. If I lose the toss on the final, it's just the matter of doing well on field. Taylor is a fantastic player; I hope he does well in the final also."
Man of the Match is Brendan Taylor : "The pitch was slightly slow than the first game here against India. But it still played ok. We felt that they should have got more. So we just concentrated on getting a foundation for the batsmen coming in. I am trying to find some consistency with my batting and it's a nice feeling to get a few good scores here. Really pleasing with the wins. I try to tell myself that stay relaxed as much as possible; you have a job to do and go out there and do it. They [Sri Lanka] have rested some players in this game and so definitely the contest will be stiffer in the final."
That's it from us. Good bye and good luck
BO J: "makes me wish I was back in Harare watching the match! I've been
really impressed with how quickly the Zimbabwe team is growing and improving as weget more and more match experience against better sides. Well done guys!! Let's keep it going for the final"
low full toss on the off stump line, pushed to mid-off for a single
Another wide down the leg side. He was trying the slower one but the release went awry
the slow bouncer around off, swatted behind square-leg
good yorker on the middle and Taylor stabs it back down the track
Wide outside the leg stump. Just four more now
Thwack! Full pitched on the leg and middle and Taibu whips it to deep midwicket for three runs
Sandeep: "Taylor has been playing tournament of his life....With 3 man of the matches so far , he would be on his way to make a record for most number of man of the match in a tournament."
Faiz: "Now Taylor overtook Rohit Sharma as the highest scorer in this tournament. Well played"
fullish, just outside off, driven hard but straight to deep cover
Fernando responds with a yorker, dug out towards third man. Just nine more now
Stunner! Fabulicious! What a hit. It was a full delivery around off and he punched it over long-off. Classy. Stylish. Superb timing.
short in length, on the middle, pushed back to the bowler
taps this to square-leg and they cross over
goes for the yorker, dug out towards mid-on for a quick single
leans forward to nurdle it past square-leg
And what a response from Brendan. The crowd roar. Taylor plays the reverse sweep - he leaned forward and swept it over backward point. Crash!
stretches forward to turn it to short midwicket. Just a single so far
leans forward to work it behind square-leg
spins in from outside off, pushed down the track
tossed full outside off, driven to mid-off
Batting Powerplay on
The slow bouncer.. Taylor was in two minds.. tries to pull but by then the ball had sailed over