*ZIMBABWE VS OMAN SUPER SIXES MATCH 1 PREVIEW: ICC WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS 2023*
*THE BUILD UP:*
A side that has gone against all odds, is unbeaten and has made it all the way through will be facing a side that started positively, played some good brand of cricket only to go into this next stage with two back to back losses. Yes, you guessed it right- it’s Zimbabwe vs Oman here at Harare as both these sides look to further add points to their tally to make a strong appeal and make themselves available for the Worldcup in India later on.
What I have absolutely adored about this Zimbabwe side is their hunger to get to India. We haven’t seen them being complacent at any point in time and the underdogs have most certainly delivered in all departments to exist. Their batting has only gone from strength to strength and the fact that they accumulated a massive 400 against USA was a testimony to how hard they can come against Oman in the first match of the Super 6s. Though they were below par with the bowl in their first two encounters, they came back strong to show their class in this department as well. Short on words as to how Oman can threaten this side which has activated its flying mode.
Oman on the other hand would have been satisfied with the start they got off to. Beating IRE and UAE is no mean feat and Oman did it with conviction. Then came the D-Day where the Zeeshan led side were hammered badly, being beaten by 10 wickets. It was a morale deflating loss which carried to their last league game vs Scotland, getting bashed by 76 runs which is quite a healthy margin for any side to be beaten by. They would look to correct these flaws and upset Zimbabwe which are in the form of their lives.
*ZIMBABWE PROBABLE XI:*
J Gumbie(wk), Craig Ervine(c), Sean Williams, Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, W Masakadza, Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara
Zimbabwe chose to rest a few regulars from their XI against USA but expect a comeback from all of them, including their skipper Craig Ervine who was replaced by Innocent Kaia as the opener. With a full strength Zim contesting for glory, there’s very slim chance that Oman would be able to match up to their skillset.
Sean Williams and Raza have been the best batters from Zimbabwe and probably the best out of this tournament as a whole, as well. They are in form and have a fixed goal in mind. If Oman come up against this fired up duo with a point to prove, they are in for trouble. Williams was at his brutal best vs USA, smashing 174 off just 101 balls with 21 fours and 5 sixes. He could be a real menace come tomorrow.
Richard Ngarava with his slingy left arm action has been a class apart and holds a different pedigree heading into this game with 10 wickets up his sleeves at an average of 13.3 and he would only get better as ZIM keep progressing into the business stages of this tourney. I place my bet on him to get a couple of big wickets to make a name for himself again.
*OMAN PROBABLE XI:*
Kashyap Prajapati, Jatinder Singh, Aqib Ilyas, Zeeshan Maqsood(c), Muhammad Nadeem, Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Naseem Khushi(wk), Fayyaz Butt, Jay Odedra, Bilal Khan
Naseem got a proper chance to bat last game and showed what he possesses as a batter in this format. Though his innings came in a losing cause, it was a reality check for Oman to promote him up the order. This was only the second time he got to bat this tournament with the first one being against Srilanka where he recorded a two ball 1. Interested to see where he bats against Zimbabwe, a side which will be ready with all its plans intact and would ba raring to pounce on any mistakes made by Oman.
The Omani skipper has been a disappointing product so far. All he did was get a 59 against Ireland that too in Oman’s first game and other than that, he only has ten runs under his bracket leading his team to just 1/3 wins. It’s like there has been a reversal in his fortunes post the first game of Oman. He, otherwise, averages a good 30 in this format and if he turns up, Oman’s chances of producing an upset will only boost.
*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME:*
*FOR ZIM:*
Highest run getter- Sean Williams/Craig Ervine
Highest wicket taker- Richard Ngarava/Blessing Muzarabani
*FOR OMAN:*
Highest run getter- Zeeshan Maqsood/Aqib Ilyas
Highest wicket taker- Fayyaz Butt/Zeeshan Maqsood
*FOR THIS GAME:*
ZIM to win