Zimbabwe hope to seal series in Harare decider

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbara elected to bowl in the series decider on a surface that has remained dry for the most part of the three-match series.

A Zimbabwe win will be historic, as it will be their first series victory against a Test nation besides Bangladesh since 2001.

It’s all square between Zimbabwe and New Zealand as the two teams head into the third and final ODI in Harare on Friday. “Whether it’s the bat or the ball, it’s important to deal with the first hour”, he was reported to have said by ESPNcricinfo.

The other New Zealander to total four figures in a calendar year is Roger Twose, with 1064 runs in 2000. Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore might have been disappointed with the performance of his team in the second ODI and will ask it to raise the game to the next level in the third match. No replacement has been sought from New Zealand.

Zimbabwe will be looking to attack New Zealand’s inexperienced bowling attack, and will take heart from the way Sikandar Raza’s superb century inspired them to a defendable score in the second match despite being 68-5 at one stage, putting on an 89-run stand with Tinashe Panyangara for the ninth wicket.

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The India-based TEN Sports network provides a streaming link here for the Third Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand ODI.