Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI: What is the pitch report and the weather report from Harare Sports Club

New Delhi: After taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, the Afghanistani team will look to end the ODI series with a series victory.

ZIM vs AFG: Pitch Report

The 3rd ODI between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will be a morning game. Naturally, there will be a lot of lateral movement for the bowlers of both teams early on. Moreover, a fresh wicket will be a paradise of swing and seam for pacers especially with the wicket holding onto the moisture. For the pacers, it will be a brilliant surface to bowl on.

Zimbabwe’s top order had no clue against the moving ball last time, and if their openers don’t survive the first few overs, it could be deja vu.

However, once the early moisture dries up, the track at Harare starts behaving like a completely different beast. By the afternoon, it becomes a batter’s paradise. The ball starts coming onto the bat nicely, and stroke-makers can let loose. That said, there’s still something in it for the spinners. While it won’t turn square, the slower bowlers can exploit the surface during the middle overs. Someone like Rashid Khan could have a field day if he finds his rhythm.

The toss could end up being the most crucial moment of the game. History shows that chasing teams have the upper hand at Harare. Add to that the overcast conditions and the toss-winning captain will likely opt to bowl first, hoping their bowlers can make early inroads.

ZIM vs AFG: Weather report

Coming to the weather report, a full game is on the cards. The temperature is expected to hover between 24 degrees and 27 degrees and pleasant weather is expected to remain throughout the game.

Source: Accuweather

Squads of both teams

Zimbabwe Squad

Ben Curran, Tadiwanashe Marumani(wicket-keeper), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Craig Ervine(captain), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, Joylord Gumbie, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Victor Nyauchi, Tinotenda Maposa

Afghanistan Squad

Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil(wicket-keeper), Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Ishaq, Bilal Sami, Nangeyalia Kharote