Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan: The second ODI between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at Harare Sports Club promises high stakes as both teams aim to gain the upper hand in this shortened three-match series. With the first game washed out, this encounter could be pivotal in determining the series outcome. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the game, including pitch details, team dynamics, and key players.

Pitch Report and Stats

The surface favors a balanced contest. Pacers have found assistance early on with swing and seam movement, while spinners thrive in the middle overs. Recent performances suggest that totals above 250 can be challenging to chase.

• Average Scores and Outcomes:
  • Average 1st innings score: 236
  • Average 2nd innings score: 196
  • Matches won batting first: 80
  • Matches won batting second: 85
• Scoring Patterns:
  • Below 200: 39 matches
  • Between 200-249: 57 matches
  • Between 250-299: 53 matches
  • Above 300: 17 matches
• Highest Score: 408/6 (Zimbabwe)
• Lowest Score: 35/10 (Zimbabwe)
• Harare Specialist Performers:
  • Zimbabwe:
    • Sean Williams: 618 runs, 5 wickets (10 matches)
    • Sikandar Raza: 312 runs, 13 wickets (10 matches)
    • Richard Ngarava: 42 runs, 15 wickets (10 matches)
  • Afghanistan:
    • Mohammad Nabi: 44 runs, 8 wickets (3 matches)
    • Rashid Khan: 45 runs, 7 wickets (3 matches)
    • Rahmat Shah: 198 runs (3 matches)

Head-to-Head Record

• Total Matches: 29
  • Zimbabwe Wins: 10
  • Afghanistan Wins: 18
  • No Results: 1
• Last 5 Meetings:
  • 17-Dec-2024: No Result
  • 09-Jun-2022: Afghanistan won by 4 wickets
  • 06-Jun-2022: Afghanistan won by 8 wickets
  • 04-Jun-2022: Afghanistan won by 60 runs
  • 06-Mar-2018: Zimbabwe won by 2 runs

Afghanistan clearly dominates the rivalry, winning 64.29% of the encounters.

Recent Form Guide

• Zimbabwe: L, W, L, L, NR
  Struggles in recent games, especially against stronger bowling units.
• Afghanistan: L, W, L, W, NR
  Impressive performances, including a T20I series victory against Zimbabwe.

Key Players to Watch

Zimbabwe

1. Sean Williams
   • Recent Form: 678 runs and 5 wickets in 10 matches
   • Performance at Harare: 618 runs, 5 wickets in 10 matches
   • Role: A seasoned all-rounder capable of influencing the game with both bat and ball.
2. Richard Ngarava
   • Recent Form: 88 runs and 13 wickets in 10 matches
   • Performance at Harare: 15 wickets in 10 matches
   • Role: Strike bowler in both the powerplay and death overs.

Afghanistan

1. Rashid Khan
   • Recent Form: 79 runs and 17 wickets in 10 matches
   • Record Against Zimbabwe: 96 runs and 23 wickets in 8 matches
   • Performance at Harare: 7 wickets in 3 matches
   • Role: Match-winning leg-spinner and a handy lower-order batter.
2. Mohammad Nabi
   • Recent Form: 256 runs and 9 wickets in 10 matches
   • Performance at Harare: 8 wickets in 3 matches
   • Role: Afghanistan’s experienced all-rounder, adept in pressure situations.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Playing XI

Zimbabwe:

1. Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk)
2. Brian Bennett
3. Craig Ervine (c)
4. Sean Williams
5. Sikandar Raza
6. Ben Curran
7. Richard Ngarava
8. Blessing Muzarabani
9. Victor Nyauchi
10. Dion Myers
11. Wellington Masakadza

Afghanistan:

1. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
2. Rahmat Shah
3. Najibullah Zadran
4. Azmatullah Omarzai
5. Mohammad Nabi
6. Rashid Khan
7. Fazalhaq Farooqi
8. Ikram Alikhil (wk)
9. Sediqullah Atal
10. Gulbadin Naib
11. Fareed Malik

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Prediction

Afghanistan holds a clear edge with a more consistent batting lineup and a world-class bowling attack led by Rashid Khan. Zimbabwe will rely heavily on Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza to keep them competitive.

Prediction: Afghanistan to win

Follow Thesportsprince.com for the best previews and cricket analysis.