ZIMBABWE vs PAKISTAN: 3rd ODI- Preview

The hosts Zimbabwe will take on Pakistan in the third ODI of the five-match series. The tourists have already taken a 2-0 lead in the series. Thus, they would aim to take an impregnable lead against the depleted Zimbabwe side.

In fact, Zimbabwe has not only lost the first two matches but also they are handed an ignominious defeat by Pakistan. The visitors had won the first match by a gargantuan margin of 201 runs whereas they clinched the second match by nine wickets.

Pakistan will look to seal the series.

Therefore, the morale in the Zimbabwe dressing room after losing by a big margin would be low. However, Hamilton Masakadza will have to lift the dropping shoulders.

On the other hand, Pakistan has ticked the right boxes in Zimbabwe. They had won the T20I series and now look to bag the ODI series. As usual, their bowling has fired at all cylinders. The southpaw opener Fakhar Zaman has been the biggest positive for them.

Furthermore, Sarfraz Ahmed will not like to take his foot off the paddle. Pakistan is playing some good cricket and they would like to be ruthless against beleaguered Zimbabwean side.

Zimbabwe will like to show some fight.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will like to put up a better fight with both bat and ball. They have lacked the intent and Hamilton Masakadza will like to show that his boys have the ability to counterpunch the opposition.

Pakistan needed at least four wins in the five matches in the series to retain their number fifth rankings in the 50-overs format. In fact, how things have fared out thus far in the series, it looks like a cakewalk for the Men in Green.

Date and Time: 18th July 2018, 12:45 PM IST.

Venue: Queen Sports Club. Bulawayo.

Weather Conditions: The players will once again be greeted by a cold morning. However, as the day will progress, the temperature is expected to rise to 20 Degree Celsius.

Pitch Conditions: The pitch is expected to remain the same as it was for the first two matches. Consequently, we can expect an even contest between bat and ball.

Results of last five matches:

Zimbabwe: LLLLW

Pakistan: WWLLL

Zimbabwe Predicted XI: Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza (c), Tarisai Musakanda, Peter Moor, Ryan Murray (wk), Donald Tiripano, Liam Roche, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani.

Pakistan Predicted XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Usman Khan.

Stats: Pakistan’s veteran batsman Shoaib Malik is just three runs shy of the 7000 run-mark. The right-hander will become the eighth Pakistan batsman to get to the landmark.