Zimbabwe look to close out series

Overview

Zimbabwe vs United Arab Emirates
3rd ODI
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Sunday, 14 April; 9:30am local time, 7:30am GMT

If not for the exploits of Regis Chakabva and skipper Peter Moor, UAE might have levelled the four-match series in a rain-affected second ODI on Friday, 12 April. But the duo's unbeaten 93-run stand for the fifth wicket sealed the deal for the hosts as they clinched a four-run win by the DLS method.

UAE's batting has been a problem area. In both matches, they've lost early wickets, being 19/3 and 21/3. In the second game, after a rain break, they lost six wickets for 26 runs and ended up with a modest 169/9 in 35 overs. Those late wickets hurt them when the target was readjusted.

"To score only 31 off the last five overs, and to lose six wickets, was really disappointing," coach Dougie Brown told The National. “We pride ourselves on finishing an innings, but we didn’t manage to do that. That cost us 10 or 15 runs, which, over the course of a shortened game, is a huge margin."

However, they can draw inspiration from the 121-run partnership between wicket-keeper batsman Ghulam Shabber (56) and Shaiman Anwar (72) in the previous game. And, it will be up to experienced campaigners like Anwar and Rohan Mustafa to step up

The UAE bowlers chipped away at Zimbabwe's batting and at one point the hosts looked all at sea at 92/4 in 19.2 overs. Mustafa (2/38), Zahoor Khan (1/26) and Imran Haider (1/40) were among the wickets in the second game. Their challenge will be to apply pressure in the middle overs as they have a tendency to fall flat after an initial surge.

For Zimbabwe, the highlights were opener Chakabva, who dropped anchor at one end, and the blistering Moor. Moor's 33-ball 45*, studded with a four and three sixes, earned him the Player of the Match.

The hosts are doing everything right so far and a 2-0 unassailable lead means they will be eager to wrap the series. The form of their star bowlers Kyle Jarvis, Donald Tiripano and Tendai Chatara bodes well for the team.

Key players

Kyle Jarvis (Zimbabwe): Jarvis' spell of 4/17 in the second ODI was an excellent performance by the seam bowler. He claimed three wickets in his six-over spell with the new ball before returning in the 35th over to get his fourth. The 30-year-old has 51 wickets in 42 ODIs and is known to be economical.

Shaiman Anwar (UAE): With 11 fifties and a century at 32.16 in 38 ODIs, Anwar is one of UAE's best batsmen. He showed his mettle in the second game with a fantastic knock of 72. When on song, the right-hander has the ability to score runs from any of the top six positions. His reputation as a prolific six-hitter in domestic circles also helps build his case as a street-smart batsman.

Conditions

The forecast shows overcast conditions through the day and the match might be a curtailed affair like the second ODI. Zimbabwe have successfully chased in both the games so far and will be looking for an encore.

Squads

Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (c), Solomon Mire, Regis Chakabva (wk), Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Brian Chari, Chris Mpofu

UAE: Mohammad Naveed (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rohan Mustafa, Ghulam Shabbir (wk), Shaiman Anwar, Muhammad Usman, Mohammad Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, CP Rizwan, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat