Harare Sports Club Pitch Report For Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st ODI

Debashis Sarangi

Zimbabwe will take on Afghanistan in 1st ODI [Source: @ZimCricketv/X]Zimbabwe will take on Afghanistan in 1st ODI [Source: @ZimCricketv/X]

On Tuesday, Zimbabwe will cross swords against Afghanistan in the first One-Day International of the three-match home series. The high-voltage contest will be played at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe. 

Led by Rashid Khan, the Afghans secured a convincing series win in T20Is, defeating the hosts by 2-1. So, this match gives the hosts a golden opportunity to settle the score and stun the visitors against all odds. 

Afghanistan will pretty much rely on Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi for an impressive performance with the bat. Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi will be their first-choice all-rounders, with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rashid Khan and Allah Ghazanfar playing key roles with the ball. 

On the other hand, the hosts will be dependent on Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza and the rampant fast-bowling duo of Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava to succeed against the mighty Afghans. 

As the stage is set for a cracking contest, let's see how the surface at Harare Sports Club will behave throughout the match. 

Harare Sports Club Stats And Records In ODIs

Criterion
Data
Matches Played198
Matches won batting 1st89
Matches won bowling 1st103
Average 1st innings score230
Average 2nd innings score196


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

The surface at Harare Sports Club was on the slower side, making it tough for the batters to score runs in the T20I series. However, the pitch might behave slightly differently in the ODIs, considering how it has played in the 50-over format over the years. 

It's a morning game, and hence, there will be some moisture on the wicket. The fast bowlers generally get a hint of assistance with the new ball in the first innings, swinging and seaming the ball both ways. So, from the openers' perspective, it will be important to see through the first few overs in the first innings. 

However, as the game progresses, the track loses its moisture and becomes a batting beauty. The ball comes nicely onto the bat, and the batters enjoy their time in the afternoon. There will be some turn for the spinners, but overall, it will likely be a good batting wicket. 

Batting becomes significantly easier in the second half in Harare, and considering that teams batting second have won 15 more games than teams batting first, the toss-winning side will likely opt to bowl. 

Players To Watch Out For At Harare Sports Club

Richard Ngarava

  • Zimbabwe's premier pacer Richard Ngarava could be a crucial player for the hosts, as he troubled the visitors with his pace and movement in the T20Is. 
  • He has scalped 27 wickets at a solid economy of 4.91 in Harare and might be a key player if Zimbabwe bowl first. 

Rashid Khan

  • Afghanistan's spin-bowling wizard Rashid Khan was magnificent in the T20Is, scalping nine wickets in the three-match series. The Zimbabwean batters have struggled to pick his variations, making him a player to watch out for in this game. 

Sikandar Raza

  • Sikandar Raza is Zimbabwe's most valuable asset, courtesy of his incredible all-round prowess. Apart from playing blistering knocks in the middle order, Raza can chip in with a few overs of off-spin and can capitalise on Harare's playing conditions.