Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
Date: Friday, May 7 – Tuesday, May 11
BetXchange Odds:
- Zimbabwe –
- Pakistan –
Form
This is the final match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe on this five-match mini-tour. The first three contests were T20Is, and with all eyes looking forward to the T20 World Cup later this year it was the tourists that ended up as the 2-1 series victors.
Pakistan won the first T20I by 11 runs in what was to become a low-scoring series for the format. The second T20I was a shocking one as the hosts struggled to 118/9 from their 20 overs. With seemingly an easy target ahead of them, Pakistan floundered and made just 99 runs before being bowled out with the very last ball of the match. It was Zimbabwe’s first-ever win over Pakistan in this format.
Annoyed by the defeat, Pakistan came out firing in the third T201. They elected to bat and put up a series high of 165/3 with Mohammad Rizwan top-scoring on an unbeaten 91. Zimbabwe never looked to have the run rate required to run down their visitors and finished at 141/7 in their chase.
The first Test between the two sides was completely dominated by Pakistan. The visitors bowled out their hosts for just 176 in less than 60 overs before going on a tear with the bat and putting up a score of 426 with Fawad Alam top-scoring with a mighty 140 off of 204 balls. Zimbabwe thus had a mountain to climb to even force Pakistan into a second innings and they were unable to do so as they were bowled out for 134 in 46.2 overs. The result was Pakistan winning by an innings and 116 runs, a complete whitewash that the hosts will be looking to bounce back from and regain some respect in the second and final of the two Tests here in 2021.
Zimbabwe
The tourists won the toss in the first Test and elected to bat in a move that did not work out in their favor. The main issue was the loss of early wickets for no return before Roy Kaia was able to respond further down the order. In the second innings, it was the opening duo of Tarisai Musakanda and Kevin Kasuza that was able to fend off the Pakistani attack, but the tourists will need their entire batting lineup to work in unison for any chance here. One bright spot should be the return of regular captain Sean Williams after an injury kept him out of the first Test.
Pakistan
Pakistan was fueled by a duel-pronged attack in the first Test as Alam’s knock of 140 with the bat was perfectly offset by the nine wickets claimed by bowler Hasan Ali. Imran Butt was another star he put up 91, with multiple batsmen finding it easy to attack off of the Zimbabwean bowling. Haris Rauf might find his way into the starting XI, but outside of that, it is hard to see any likely change in the Pakistani attack in terms of playing personnel or tactics.
Best Bets
The prop bets are the way to go here. I like a 100 to be scored in the first innings at 0.85 with BetXChange and for Butt to continue his outstanding form as the Pakistani top batsman at 3.50 also with BetXChange.
