New Zealand vs Zimbabwe 3rd ODI | Preview | 2012

New Zealand have outclassed Zimbabwe but even the visitors have made it an easy tour to date with undisciplined batting and bowling. The 2nd ODI result did not reflect how much Zimbabwe improved as they reached 231. All Zimbabwe need now is to mix batting with bowling to have the best chance of knocking a game off the enthusiastic Kiwi’s.

Match Information :

9th February, Napier
Starting Time: 1400 Local Time

How the Teams Stand:

Zimbabwe’s problems were with the bat earlier this your but a brilliant batting performance in the 2nd ODI should of got a close game but again the inconsistency of the team shows with the bowlers not being able to do the job. New Zealand were fearless in the 2nd ODI and they were hitting almost everything out of the middle of the bat which helped guide them to a total over 350. Zimbabwe are looking to build up and keep an international test status but to do that and move forward they need to start gelling as a team with bat and ball to either win a match or make a close match.

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Elton Chigumbura has been a nobody for Zimbabwe over the past year or two with some terrible tours after he was so successful a few years ago in grinding those extra runs at the end of the 50 overs for Zimbabwe. Hopefully for Zimbabwe’s sake Chigumbura’s 63 in the 2nd ODI is a reflection on what is to come. Jacob Oram is another player who hasn’t had the highest of success of what he has had in the past but a man of the match performance in the 2nd ODI excited the crowd and even non Kiwi fans would of loved to watch that match in how Oram played.

Pitch Report:

The Napier track is often a good batting pitch when you play the right shots but there is always something there for the new ball bowlers that can concern the batsman.

Team News:

Dean Brownlie is out of the series with an injury meaning his spot will be given to someone but no one knows yet who that replacement will be. Nethula didn’t bowl that great but might be given another game to build up his experience for future tours.

New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Rob Nicol, 3 Brendon McCullum, 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Tom Latham, 6 YTBD, 7 Nathan McCullum, 8 Jacob Oram, 9 Tarun Nethula, 10 and 11 Kyle Mills/Tim Southee/Doug Bracewell

Zimbabwe might be thinking of bringing in Brian Vitori for either Jarvis or S Masakadza who were both very expensive in the 2nd ODI.

Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Regis Chakabva, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Tatenda Taibu, 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 & 10 Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori and SW Masakadza (one to be omitted), 11 Ray Price.

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