ZIM vs AFG | 3rd T20I | Preview, Prediction, Probable XI, CREX XI

Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will compete against each other in the final T20I of 3-match T20I series on Tuesday (June 14) at Harare Sports Club in Harare. 

Zimbabwe lost another series as Afghanistan defeated the host by 21 runs in the second T20I and took an unassailable 2-0 lead with one game left. Zimbabwe struggled with the bat once again and failed to chase the target of 171 set by Afghanistan. 

They could only score 149 in twenty overs and fell 21 runs short of the target, despite the efforts of Innocent Kaia and Sikandar Raza. Kaia and Raza added 70 runs for the fourth wicket but could not take their team across the line. 

Sikandar Raza is the only player from Zimbabwe who has been consistent throughout this tour. He scored 45 in the first T20I and 41 in the second T20I. The 36-year-old is the top scorer for Zimbabwe in this series and would look to continue his form for one last time to finish with a consolation win.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan won the second T20I and sealed the three-match series with one game to go. Najibullah Zadran continued to score runs and currently is the highest run-getter in this series. 

After scoring an unbeaten 44 in the first T20I to take Afghanistan home, he came to bat at five in the second T20I when his team lost three wickets within the powerplay and ended up scoring a brilliant 57, taking Afghanistan to a competitive total. Mohammad Nabi did the rest at the end with a 22-ball 43. 

Later, Fazalhaq Farooqi gave a brilliant start with the ball, removing an in-form Wesley Madhevere in the powerplay, followed by another tight spell from Rashid Khan. 

The leg spinner gave just 21 runs in his four overs and took the wicket of the dangerous-looking Sikandar Raza, followed by Ryan Burl to seal the deal. After that, Zimbabwe kept losing wickets, and Afghanistan sealed the series 2-0 with one game to spare.

Fazal Haq Farooqi was a treat to watch with his yorkers in swingers and the seaming deliveries. Zimbabwe would have gotten closer to the target if not for him. 

Despite some brilliant individual efforts, Zimbabwe never looked close to the standards of Afghanistan and lost another T20I series. Meanwhile, Mohammad Nabi & co would like to end the tour on a high with a 3-0 clean sweep.

Match Details:

Match: Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare

Date & Time: June 14 at 4:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Fancode

Pitch Report: The pitch in Harare is a perfect one for the shortest format. The total par looks around 165, and anything above that is difficult to chase down. Team chasing has won three of the last five games.  

Head-To-Head:

Matches played: 14

Zimbabwe Won: 1

Afghanistan Won: 13

Tie: 0

Squads:

Zimbabwe:  Wesley Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine (c), Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Regis Chakabva (wk), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Donald Tiripano

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nijat Masood, Ihsanullah Janat, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Noor Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Afsar Zazai

Probable Playing XI:

Zimbabwe: Wesley Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine (c), Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Regis Chakabva (wk), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nijat Masood

CREX XI Suggestion:

Wicket-Keeper: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Regis Chakabva

Batters: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Najibullah Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai

All-Rounders: Sikandar Raza, Wesley Madhevere, Mohammad Nabi

Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Tendai Chatara

Captain: Mohammad Nabi

Vice-Captain: Sikandar Raza