ZIM vs NZ, Preview | New Zealand eye eighth consecutive win against Zimbabwe in last league match

Today at 12:34 PM

Zimbabwe will be taking on New Zealand in the last league game of the home tri-series on July 24 at the Harare Sports Club. While the Kiwis will be looking to maintain their unbeaten streak in the tournament, the hosts will be looking to finish on a high having not registered a win so far.

‌The last league game of the tri-series is set to be played on Thursday, between the Kiwis and the host nation. This is a battle between two teams in completely contrasting positions, with the Chevrons at the bottom of the barrel losing all three game and the Mitchell Santner-led being at the top of the table with three wins in a row.

The upcoming match might seem like a dead-rubber contest with the two finalists already decided but it does not mean that the teams have nothing to play fo. It has been an abysmal home series for the African Nation who have lost all three of their fixtures by big margins and will want to prove to their mettle in the last and final game to give their fans something to cheer about. Though there are some positive within the bowling unit that manage to give decent starts in the powerplay, they have failed to dominate the middle and the death overs. The batting of the home-team has left a lot to be desired as well where despite producing some great partnerships in the middle, they have failed to capatalise and finished on subpar totals in all their matches.

The situation will be tough for the hosts against a New Zealand side who will be looking to make it four-in-four in the next game. They will be high on confidence after beating the South Africans twice in the tournament already ahead of the final which will be played on July 26. They are already favorites to win the tri-series and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten streak not only in the tournament but gainst the Chevrons as well, who they are yet to lose a game against.

Form Guide

Zimbabwe’s form in T20Is has been horrid of late, with their disappointing performances in the ongoing series only adding to the woes. They have been victorious in only one out of the last five encounters they have featured in.

Speaking of New Zealand, they are on a great winning streak in the format, winning all their last five T20 internationals.

Zimbabwe: L L L NR W

New Zealand: W W W W W

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in T20s

New Zealand have played seven games against Zimbabwe in T20Is and have maintained an unbeaten run against the hosts in the format so far.

Zimbabwe 0 -7 New Zealand

Pitch and Weather

The surface at Harare has been a huge challenge for the batters due to its slow and dry nature. The highest score in the tri-series in the tournament has been 172 and the highest total chased down is 145 at this venue.

Though the weather at Harare is expected to be cloudy, there should be no rain during the game on Thursday.

Team News

Zimbabwe will most likely bring back Blessing Muzarabani back into the lineup in place of Trevor Gwandu after the premier quick missed the previous outing due to a personal loss in the family.

The Blackcaps had made two changes in their last game against South Africa and will most likely bring back Matt Henry and Bevon Jacobs into the playing eleven for the final game, in place of Zachary Foulkes and William O’Rourke.

ZIM Probable XI: Brian Bennett, Wesley Madhevere, Clive Madande (wk), Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Masekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Titotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.

NZ Probable XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Matt Henry, Adam Milne Jacob Duffy