ZIM vs NAM | 5th T20I | Match Preview, Pitch Report, Probable XI, CREX XI

Zimbabwe will be up against Namibia in the fifth match of the five-match T20I series on Tuesday (May 24) at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe led the five-match series 2-1 after the first three encounters in Bulawayo. Coming into the fourth T20I, Namibia won the toss again, asking Zimbabwe to bat first this time after failing to defend the target in the third T20I. 

The hosts scored 157 in the first innings, with Wesley Madhevere leading their scoring chart with a 32-ball 50. The hosts were 83 for 2 at the halfway mark before losing four wickets in a cluster, followed by a recovery work from Mutumbami and Jongwe, scoring a 38-run stand to take them past 150 in 20 overs. 

And then, Zimbabwe had a pretty good start with the ball, having removed in-form Craig Williams for just a run. Chasing 158, Namibia were 48 for 2 after the powerplay before skipper Gerhard Erasmus led the way with an unbeaten 59 and won the fourth T20I in a last-ball thriller.

With the series being level at 2-2, it is well set up for a brilliant finale on Tuesday for the last T20I of this five-match series. And, as we have seen every single game of this series, going down to the wire, another nail-biting encounter awaits as the decider.

Match Details

Match: Zimbabwe vs Namibia, 5th T20I

Date: 24 May, 2022

Time: 04:30 PM IST

Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Live Streaming: Zimbabwe Cricket Youtube Channel

Pitch Report: The pitch at the Queens Sports Club has been pretty good for chasing in all the four T20Is played in this five-match series so far. The pitch does not change much throughout the forty overs and is suited for all kinds of bowlers. The team winning the toss should definitely bat second.

Pitch Stats (Last 5 Matches)

Matches played: 5

Matches won batting first: 1

Matches won bowling first: 4

Average first innings score: 150

Average second innings score: 150.2

Head-To-Head

Matches played: 4

Zimbabwe Won: 2

Namibia Won: 2

Key Matchups

C Williams vs T Chatara: 9/2 at 56 SR

C Ervine vs D Wiese: 3/1 at 50 SR

R Chakabva vs B Scholtz: 4/2 at 20 SR

W Madhevere vs Wiese: 33/0 at 150 SR

Erasmus vs Chatara: 5/1 at 62 SR

Injury Update/Players' Availability

Namibia: All-rounder JJ Smit didn't play in the first four games due to his father's demise. Divan la Cock missed out last time as he is not available due to academic reasons. He might not play in this game as Namibia is expected to go with the winning combination.

Zimbabwe: The home team is expected to field the same playing XI. Milton Shumba's availability is uncertain.

Squads

Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Wesley Madhevere, Regis Chakabva (wk), Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Tony Munyonga, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Brandan Mavuta, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Tanaka Chivanga, Richmond Mutumbami, Victor Nyauchi, Tanaka Chivanga, Ernest Masuku, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl

Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Craig Williams, Divan la Cock, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Zane Green (wk), David Wiese, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jan Frylinck, Pikky Ya France, Bernard Scholtz, Tangeni Lungameni, JJ Smit, Michael van Lingen, Ben Shikongo, Dylan Leicher

Probable Playing XI

Zimbabwe: Regis Chakabva(wk), Wesley Madhevere, Craig Ervine(c), Sikandar Raza, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Tony Munyonga, Victor Nyauchi, Donald Tiripano, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chatara

Namibia: Craig Williams, Michael van Lingen, Gerhard Erasmus(c), David Wiese, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Zane Green(wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Jan Frylinck, Pikky Ya France, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo

CREX XI Suggestion

Wicket-Keeper: Regis Chakabva

Batters: Craig Ervine, Craig Williams and Innocent Kaia

All-Rounders: David Wiese, Gerhard Erasmus, Sikandar Raza and Wesley Madhevere

Bowlers: Jan Frylinck, Bernard Scholtz and Tendai Chatara

Captain: Wesley Madhevere

Vice-Captain: Tendai Chatara