Zimbabwe hope to seal series in Harare decider

Hosts looking for first series win since January 2001 against a top-eight side

Hosts Zimbabwe will be looking to claim a first series win against a top-eight opposition in over a decade when they take on New Zealand in the final and third ODI in Harare.

The Black Caps, on the other hand, will be confident of winning the decider despite missing several big players including skipper Brendon McCullum and the new ball pair of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

Zimbabwe had taken a lead in unlikely fashion in the first ODI when they pulled off a remarkable chase, reaching their highest-ever target of 303-4 with surprising ease.

The visitors were not to be outdone though and responded with an equally remarkable chase of their own, as openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham both scored centuries and chased down the 236-run target without the loss of any wickets in a mammoth record partnership.

Zimbabwe will be looking to attack New Zealand’s inexperienced bowling attack, and will take heart from the way Sikandar Raza’s superb century inspired them to a defendable score in the second match despite being 68-5 at one stage, putting on an 89-run stand with Tinashe Panyangara for the ninth wicket.

The bowlers, however, may find some joy from the conditions as New Zealand coach Mike Hesson expects. “Whether it’s the bat or the ball, it’s important to deal with the first hour,” he was reported to have said by ESPNcricinfo. “The ball does some funny things, not so much seam but it holds in the wicket and hits the top of the bat a lot and is very difficult to score.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th,  2015.

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