Zimbabwe vs Netherlands, ZIM vs NL, Today Match Prediction 23 March 2023

zim vs nl Match Prediction & Analysis

Zimbabwe will look to level with the Netherlands in the 2nd game of the 3-match series. It was a poor performance with the ball from the hosts as they paid the price for complacency and lost the last game by 7 wickets. The Netherlands put up an excellent rear-guard action, snatched a win from the jaws of defeat, and will start confidently in this game.   

Despite their win in the last game, the Netherlands has been in poor form. It was their first ODI win in 15 games, which says much about the side's form. Their batsmen have been inconsistent and must deliver the goods here. Zimbabwe plays at home, and they have experience in the batting line-up. We shall have a close game as the hosts look to level the series.  

TEAMS PREVIEW

Zimbabwe Preview

Craig Ervine would be extremely upset with his bowlers. They had reduced the Netherlands to 110 for 6 with a target of 250 runs. However, the bowlers lost the plot from that advantageous situation. Ervive will expect a better show from his bowlers and top order in this game as they look to level the series.  

Craig Ervine and Innocent Kala didn't score runs in the last game, and the side needs a good start from them. Wesley Madhevere, Gary Ballance, and Sikandar Raza have a lot of experience, and the team will need a good show from them in the middle order. Clive Madande played brilliantly in the last game and adds depth to this batting line-up with Ryan Burl, Wellington Masakadza, and Richard Ngarava.  

The bowlers will need to put the last game's performance behind them. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani must bowl tight spells with the new ball as they did in the last game. The middle overs will be crucial in the game, and Brad Evans, Raza, Burl, and Masakadza need to keep pressure on the Dutch players.  

Zimbabwe Predicted Playing XI:

Craig Ervine (c), Innocent Kaia, Wesley Madhevere, Gary Ballance, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Wellington Masakadza, Clive Madande (wk), Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani

Zimbabwe Actual Playing XI:

Brad Evans, Craig Ervine, Wellington Masakadza, Clive Madande, Sikandar Raza, Garry Ballance, Blessing Muzarabani, Ryan Burl, Wesley Madhevere, Tendai Chatara, Sean Williams

Netherlands Preview

Scott Edwards shall be happy to break the losing streak. However, the Netherlands skipper has a lot to ponder about. In the last game, it was a one-man show for them, where Teja Nidamanuru took them to a win. They will need a team performance to repeat the result. The hosts shall come hard on them in this game, and a better show is expected.  

Max O'Dowd and Vikramjit Singh have failed in recent times, and the side needs a strong show from them at the top. Colin Ackermann is an experienced batsman, and he has to anchor the innings in the middle order with Musa Ahmed and Tom Cooper. Teja Nidamanuru will be confident after his electrifying knock in the last game, adding strength to their batting with Scott Edwards and Shariz Ahmed.  

Fred Klaassen and Paul van Meekeren troubled the Zimbabwean batters with the new ball in the first game, and they need to repeat the same show. Brandon Glover and Vikramjit Singh need to put brakes on the scoring in the middle overs. The side will also expect a good show from Ackermann and Shariz Ahmad.

Netherlands Predicted Playing XI:

Scott Edwards (c & wk), Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Tom Cooper, Musa Ahmed, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Teja Nidamanuru, Shariz Ahmad, Paul van Meekeren, Fred Klaassen, Brandon Glover

Netherlands Actual Playing XI:

Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards, Anil Nidamanuru, Musa Ahmad, Max O Dowd, Shariz Ahmad, Colin Ackermann, Paul Van Meekeren, Vikramjit Singh, Fred Klaassen, Ryan Klein

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies over Harare will be clear. The wicket has been a tough one to bat on in the last few games that have been played. Spinners have troubled the batsmen using the slowness of the surface. The side that bats first in this game would be happy with a score of 300 runs and above. 

Venue Details

Harare Sports Club is known for having a slow surface where the batsmen must get their eyes set to do well. There is early assistance for the fast bowlers, but the spinners have done well on this surface in the past. The large outfield also creates lesser boundary-scoring opportunities for the side.

Toss: To Bowl

The pitch has been a tough one to bat on, as we saw in the last game. The ball has stopped on the batsmen, making scoring runs challenging. Hence, the side that wins the toss would prefer to bowl here and aim at restricting the opponents to a small total.