Test Match, Harare Sports Club
7th July 2021
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Match Winner:
Bangladesh travel to Zimbabwe to do battle in a one-off Test Match before a host of limited overs matches between the two sides. Hosts Zimbabwe have found competitive cricketing opportunities few and far between over the past two years and they will be relishing the opportunity to pit their wits against an exciting Bangladesh side. With points up for grabs in the ICC World Test Championship too, it promises to be a fiercely contested 5 days of action in Harare.
Team Previews
Zimbabwe
Sitting at the bottom of the ICC Test rankings isn’t where Zimbabwe want to be but with playing opportunities curtailed due to COVID 19, they have struggled for momentum and form.
Plenty of associate nations will be plotting to overtake and usurp Zimbabwe in the Test arena and they will be hoping to prove a few doubters wrong in this contest.
Craig Ervine and captain Brendan Taylor provide stability and experience at the top of the order whilst Regis Chakabva will be looking to build on his impressive showing against Pakistan in the last series he featured.
Opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani has pace to burn and will hurry up the Bangladeshi batsmen whilst Tendai Chisoro’s left-arm leg spin is always difficult to play against, especially in home conditions.
Bangladesh
The Tigers find themselves 9th in the ICC Test rankings and they will be looking to made amends to that in this one-off test. They are a side packed with talent, but consistency has long been their Achilles Heel in top level cricketing bouts.
Mominul Haque will lead the side once again at Test Match level and he will be hoping for some support from the likes of gun opener Tamim Iqbal.
Mushfiqur Rahim is one of the premiere wicket-keeper batsman in world cricket whilst in Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh possess one of the best all-rounders in the world game.
Taskin Ahmed has been thrust into the Bangladesh squad to provide pace and animosity whilst Nayeem Hasan will be hoping to keep things metronomic with his off-spin.
Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh Test Match – Best Bets
Shakib Al Hasan to be Man of the Match @ 5.50
Few all-rounders in world cricket possess the skill set Shakib Al Hasan does and having had a sustained period away from international cricket, he could be out to prove a point from the off here.
Tamim Iqbal to be Bangladesh’s Top 1st Innings Batsman @ 2.50
As one of the most aggressive openers in world cricket, Tamim Iqbal is always looking to take the game to the opposition, and he could be hard to stop at the Harare Sports Club in this one.
Blessing Muzarabani to be Zimbabwe’s Top 1st Innings Bowler @ 2.00
Pace is often the most valuable asset a bowler can have in Zimbabwean conditions and Blessing Muzarabani will be looking to rough up some Bangladeshi batsmen and take the game to them from the off.
Match Prediction
Match Winner – Bangladesh – 0.65
This match promises to be very tightly contested, with both sides coming into the contest off the back of mixed recent performances and limited cricket under their respective belts. In home conditions, Zimbabwe are always difficult to overturn but Bangladesh are a savvy side and they could pinch this one and gain the momentum before the upcoming limited overs series.
