Zimbabwe v Bangladesh: 3rd ODI – Match Preview
Zimbabwe will go head to head with Bangladesh in the third One Day International (ODI) of the five-match series at the Harare Sport Club in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.
The hosts have already gained a 2-0 lead in the series, winning the first two games convincingly. With three more matches to go, it will be a very good chance for the African team to win the series.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cup 2011, has been impressive with his leadership skills until now. He guided his side to a Test victory before the start of the ODIs and will now be eyeing a series win in the limited
over cricket.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 will look to improve his personal batting form. The stylish opener scored his maiden century in Test cricket, but has been unimpressive in the ODIs until now.
The skipper’s batting form has not been a big concern for the team though, as some of the other players like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/H-Masakadza-c1517 have been in good touch, performing with consistency.
Apart from the top-order players, the hosts have some quality batsmen in their middle-order. The experience of veteran wicketkeeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/T-Taibu-c2630 has added a lot of value to the team and he also struck a solid half-century in the previous ODI, guiding
his side to an easy victory.
It is important for a team to have some wicket taking bowlers and the Zimbabwean team lacked this ability in the recent past. However, the induction of left-arm seamer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brian-Vitori-c1198 has made a lot of difference to the team.
The African pacer has already taken two five-wicket hauls in his first two ODIs and has not allowed the tourists to get away with decent totals. He has bowled with decent pace and swings the ball with good control. If the 21-year-old continues his form,
it will be difficult for the Bangladesh team to bounce back in the series.
Vitori has got solid support from some of the other bowlers like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CB-Mpofu-c1219 and Ray Price, who have kept the opposition quite by picking up a few wickets in the first two games.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shakib-Al-Hasan-c2492 will be under immense pressure to lift the spirit in his side, which has not won a single match on the tour until now.
Interestingly, the lone Test and the first two ODIs of the series have been played at the same venue, which has not been lucky for the Bangladeshi team at all. Today’s game will be the last in Harare before the teams move to Bulawayo for the final two ODIs.
The only chance for the visitors to bounce back in the series will be their top-order scoring runs. The top four of the team have failed miserably and at-least two of them need to score a big one in the third ODI.
A positive sign for Bangladesh in the previous game was their debutant http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nasir-c78728 Hossain’s half-century. The youngster batted lower down the order at number eight, collecting 63 runs. He might get promoted in the top-order for today’s game.
Bangladesh’s bowling has not been bad, but they will need a solid total to defend in the upcoming games.
With the current momentum, Zimbabwe will start as favourites in today’s match. However, the tourists have the strength to bounce back and they might just spring up a surprise today.
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