ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I Preview: Key Players And Stats, Live Streaming, Pitch Report, Probable XIs

ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I Preview [Source: @ZimCricketv/x]

Zimbabwe and Pakistan will close out their three-match T20I series with a dead-rubber on Thursday, December 5 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The visiting Pakistan team won the first two matches with emphatic margins to seal the series with a game to spare.

ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I: Match Details And Live Streaming

ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I Preview: Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean cricket team sustained two dramatic batting collapses in each of the first two T20Is of the series. In the opening match, the hosts lost their final eight wickets for 31 runs to concede a probable 166-run chase by 57 runs. A couple of days later, Zimbabwe lost all 10 wickets in the space of just 20 runs to get bundled out for 57, thus recording their lowest-ever T20I team total. In a bid to avoid a series whitewash at home, senior all-rounder and captain Sikandar Raza needs to lead his team from the front in Bulawayo on December 5.

ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I Preview: Pakistan

Shortly after losing the T20I series in Australia, an understrength Pakistan team bounced back in Zimbabwe, without the services of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and regular skipper Mohammad Rizwan. Young left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem played a key role in both wins. His match-winning spell of 3-5 in the second match not only marked the best-ever bowling figures in Pakistan’s T20I history, it also set up his team’s biggest ever T20I win in terms of number of balls remaining. With the bat, young opener Saim Ayub has been providing some searing starts at the top of the order.

ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I Pitch Report: How Will Bulawayo Surface Behave?

Batters need to be extra cautious upfront before unleashing their free-flowing strokes at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Fast bowlers can make early inroads with the new ball while spinners will be expected to receive some sharp turn in the middle overs. The average first innings total at the venue in all T20Is has amounted to 151. The captain winning the toss will likely opt to bat first.

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ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I: Key Players And Stats

• Saim Ayub: 60 runs in last 2 matches, Batting Average: 60.00, SR: 166.66
• Sikandar Raza: 310 runs and 14 wickets in last 10 matches, Batting Average: 44.29, SR: 175.14
• Richard Ngarava: 11 wickets in last 10 matches, Economy: 6.39, SR: 18.36
• Sufiyan Muqeem: 10 wickets in last 4 matches, Economy: 4.54, SR: 7.00

ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I: Probable Playing XIs

Zimbabwe Probable XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Trevor Gwandu.

Pakistan Probable XI: Omair Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Salman Agha (c), Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf and Sufiyan Muqeem.

ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I: Winner Prediction

On the basis of recent form and superior head-to-head record, in-form Pakistan will start out as favorites to claim the three-match T20I series by a 3-0 margin.

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ZIM vs PAK 2nd T20I Highlights: Sufiyan Muqeem Takes 5 As Pakistan Pummel Zimbabwe To Seal Series

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