Fieding: enough said. Shocking. Not backing up the bowlers at all.
Bowling: Jarvis bowled well up front. Both he and Vitori were unlucky not to take a wicket in the first four overs. But with no answers at the death (where was Muzhange?). Utseya bowled well enough, and Cremer was brilliant (as someone mentioned, why was Waller not asked to turn his arm over, or Hami?). Mpofu is very much a confidence bowler imo, Waller dropped a sitter off him second ball, Dilshan scooped him third ball, and that was it. Again, not backing up your bowlers (but of course two balls should not rock the confidence of an international bowler -- Cremer just kept strutting his stuff after that no-ball). Overall a decent performance, SL should not have gotten more than 160. But one must not forget that SL have some battings greats in their team -- the way Sangakarra bisected the field almost at will, using the big outfield to perfection, manouvering the ball around, was a sight to behold and a lesson to our batsmen: Placement and finesse have a place in T20 cricket.
Batting: Bowlers like Mendis or the recent Windies sensation Narine are never easy to handle when you haven't faced them often. Other international teams finally get to grips with these players because they play them in those endless 5-7 match ODI series, Zim obviously does not feature in said series. Coaching and watching tapes is not the same as facing those guys out there where it matters. I remember when the Aussies first faced Mendis they were utterly clueless despite meticoulus preparation and talk of "we know what to expect". Next series they had really worked him out.
3) Batsmen, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GREAT, STOP PLAYING ACROSS THE LINE. PLAY WITH A STRAIGHT BAT. All our batsmen have a habit of playing across the line. They trying to create something from nothing and they all go out. Stupid shot choices and a fear of not getting out rather than playing their shots. Ive said this for years and years and it needs to change.
Totally agree.
As others have mentioned there is a mental element as well. A few years ago our batters where visibly afraid of any pacer clocking 140+. That is something which has changed for the better, Hami giving Malinga the charge was a prime example. Facing spinners there where certain indications in the home series' against Bangladesh and NZ that our batters are not afraid anymore of "ordinary" spinners like Razzak or Patel. But throw in an element of "mystery" or unorthodoxy and the confidence is quickly gone. Yesterday we treated the lesser Mendis like Shane Warne, the same happened when teh boys were so afraid of Ajmal that they treted Hafeez like Murali and got out to his non-turning offies.
Sorry for the long post ;)