Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI Match Preview, Prediction and Live Streaming

It has all come down to the last game. Despite a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe in the last game, the ghosts of the first are far from exorcised. A moment’s falter can again descend Pakistan to rock bottom. But on the brighter side for Pakistan fans, the team, in the previous game, looked in such a good touch that it can not be so short-lived. It is fair to say that Pakistan have cracked the code to win in Bulawayo. In fact, it would be fairer to say that they have simply parroted what Zimbabwe did in the first game and turned it up to eleven.

For one, the hosts made sure to get a quick, fiery start while batting in the series opener. Pakistan copied that remorselessly in the second game but were wise enough to amplify it to a start so dominant (and fiery) that openers wrapped up the game without bothering the rest of the team. They have the blueprint now. So, all they ought to do is to hold on.

Team Overview:

For Pakistan, it was a youngster’s game. First, it was Abrar Ahmed who struck the hosts where it hurt the most, that too, so early in the game that they could not recover from it. The part-timers did their fair share of magic, in fact, Salman Ali Agha did more than what fell under his job description. And it all did not end here. The openers, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique made the work even easier. In a way, both of these young openers depict Pakistan as a team perfectly. Once they get going there is no stopping them, but on days when they don’t fancy ‘get going’, there is no one who can make them do otherwise. Pakistan would be looking to field the same side they did in the last game. However, Mohammad Rizwan would love to see the middle-order bat once more in this series to see if the haunting woes are still there.

Tadiwanashe Marumani and Joylord Gumbie took turns getting run out in both games but Zimbabwe could do well to get more contributions from the pair. Similarly, it would be handy for the Chevrons to have the experienced lot including the skipper Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, and Sean Williams chip in more. Especially against a bowling attack as good as Pakistan’s, youngster can not be left to be on their own to steer a collapsing team. Brian Bennett has yet to show what he is capable of and there will not be a better situation to do that than in the series decider.

Head-to-Head Matches:

Zimbabwe have won five out of the 64 ODI games both sides have faced each other in, while four ended without any result. The remaining 55 games have been bested by the men in green.

Weather and Pitch Report:

Bulawayo can again be expected to be openly biased in favor of spinners. The surface was exceedingly dry in the last game and could be more for the series decider. There is a chance of a passing shower causing the delay, in which case, batting might become a little easier. The best time to bat will be at the start of both innings, after which bowlers will hold sway. Another low-scoring thriller can be expected.