Harare Sports Club Pitch Report For Zimbabwe Vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI

Aakash Saini

Harare Sports Club Pitch Report [Source: @cricketworldcup/x.com]Harare Sports Club Pitch Report [Source: @cricketworldcup/x.com]

The Zimbabwean cricket team will host Afghanistan in the series-deciding third ODI match at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, December 21. After the opening washout, the visiting Afghanistan troops won the second ODI by a record margin of 232 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Zimbabwe stooped to one of their lowest-ever ODI totals by crumbling out for just 54 in the second match of the series against Afghanistan. Chasing 287 for a win, the hosts went down by 232 runs to concede a 0-1 lead to the tourists. Last month, the Zimbabwean team managed to stun Pakistan in one of the ODIs in Bulwayo before losing out the subsequent two games at the same venue.

After winning successive ODI series against South Africa and Bangladesh in the UAE, the Afghanistan cricket team extended its dominance in Zimbabwe with an emphatic win over the hosts in the second ODI. Recording their biggest-ever win in ODI history, Hashmatullah Shahidi and co. took a 1-0 lead in the series, and another positive outcome at this stage of the tour will give them yet another bilateral ODI triumph.

Ahead of the match, let’s see how the surface of the Harare Sports Club in Harare will behave throughout the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan third ODI.

Harare Sports Club Stats And Records In ODIs

Criterion
Data
Matches Played199
Matches Won Batting 1st90
Matches Won Batting 2nd103
Average 1st Innings Score229
Average 2nd Innings Score195

Harare Sports Club Pitch Report: Is It Batting or Bowling Friendly?

The impending third Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan ODI will be played under much better weather conditions, at least as per the latest updates. With sunny skies on the horizon as per the weather forecast, the batters will likely find it comfortable to play their strokes. However, fast bowlers are bound to receive some assistance initially in the innings, and can make early inroads by putting the new ball to good use.

That said, the pitch also has something for the spinners. While the tweakers will not get as much turn as desired, they can still exploit the surface in the middle overs of the innings. The average first innings total at the venue in all ODI matches hosted so far has turned out to be 229. Considering the overall track record of the Harare Sports Club, the captain winning the toss will likely opt to field first.

Players To Watch Out For At Harare Sports Club in Harare

Rashid Khan

  • Legendary Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan is a formidable asset for his team, especially in limited-overs internationals. A veteran of over 100 ODIs, Rashid can exploit the surface in the middle overs with his cunning leg-breaks. The cricketer also bamboozled the Zimbabwean batters throughout the preceding T20I series.

Sikandar Raza

  • Senior Zimbabwe cricketer Sikandar Raza holds an innate ability of turning the complexion of the game, either with the bat or the ball. The 38-year-old senior all-rounder has played nearly 150 ODIs for Zimbabwe, hauling over 4,000 runs at an average of 36.29. The cricketer has also taken 92 wickets and holds an impressive economy rate of just 4.85.

Sediqullah Atal

  • Brash young Afghanistan opener Sediqullah Atal carted 104 runs for his team from 128 balls in the second ODI a couple of days ago. The 23-year-old formed a 191-run opening stand with Abdul Malik, and the innings marked the maiden ODI century of his career. Considering his recent form, the elegant left-hander will be expected to sustain his prolific run-scoring spree as Afghanistan aims to seal the series 2-0.