What

Match 3 of the bilateral five-game ODI series between Zimbabwe and India

When

July 28, 2013, Sunday

Where

Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe

Teams

Zimbabwe

With comprehensive defeats in the first two ODIs, the hosts have given a sub-par account of themselves in the series. Their batting has been nothing more than a few decent individual scores and they have failed to click as a unit. Partnerships have been few and far between as those who got starts have failed to get big scores.

A little more accountability on part of the set batsmen will go a long way in getting Zimbabwe to a score they can compete with. Their bowling in the second ODI was a mixed bag – tight in the early overs and ordinary in the second half of the innings. Captain Brendan Taylor’s tactical faux pas of handing the ball to left-arm-spinner Sean Williams for the final over (which went for 23 runs) when he had two overs of his best bowler, seamer Brian Vitori (8-0-27-2), did not help the team’s cause either. Discipline from bowlers and a little more tactical nous from the skipper will be necessary if Zimbabwe are to keep the series alive.

India

One individual stepping up to the plate during the team’s time of need has been the hallmark of India’s batting this series. While it was Virat Kohli (115), who steadied the ship and eventually took India home in the first match, Shikhar Dhawan (116) made the most of his luck in the second match to propel his team a match-winning total. Kohli and Dhawan were also involved in 100-plus run partnerships with Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik respectively.

On a wicket where the ball moves around a bit and stops at the batsman in the beginning, India have lost early wickets. That’s something they can correct in the next game. The bowling unit has done a good job of restricting Zimbabwe to 228 and 236. Expect India to field an unchanged side.

Key players

Zimbabwe

Both Zimbabwe openers – Sikandar Raza and Vusi Sibanda – have scored a half-century each in the series so far. They have countered the new swinging ball well and displayed grit in patches. Both will be looking to bat longer and carry the innings with them.

India

Despite picking a solitary wicket in the first ODI, Jaydev Unadkat did have the Zimbabwe batsmen in awkward spots quite a few times. He continued to bowl a probing line and length in the second game as well, and was rewarded with four wickets. He has been the pick of the Indian pacers so far and the hosts will be wary of him on Sunday.

Squads

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (capt/wk), Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Michael Chinouya, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai M’Shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Ray Price, Vusi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Amit Mishra, Mohammad Shami, Parvez Rasool, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Jaidev Unadkat, Vinay Kumar, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina