We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report
Barring the rain-affected second innings of the second game, we witnessed a total above 265 runs in the other essays. Bowlers have struggled to take wickets at regular intervals at the Harare Sports Club.
Teams
Probable XI for Zimbabwe XI: Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Kevin Kasuza, Prince Masvaure, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (c), Milton Shumba, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Donald Tiripano, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chatara, Tanaka
Probable XI for South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Khaya Zondo, Theunis de Bruyn, Heinrich Klaasen (c), Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Gerald Coetzee, Daryn Dupavillon
Power Players
Reeza Hendricks scored his 16th List A hundred. The experienced batter took his time to build his innings, scoring 61% of his runs by running between the wickets. In the last 9 List A games, he has scored two hundreds and a fifty.
The talented Sikander Raza has provided the most fantasy points for the series. In two games, he has scored 98 runs with a strike rate of 114 and taken 3 wickets.
Although Andile Phehlukwayo has gone wicketless, he has made amends with the bat with scores of 87 and 27. Before coming into the series, he had scored a hundred each in List A and First Class cricket.
Smart Picks
Tendai Chatara and Donald Tiripano have been impactful in both games, taking 8 wickets between them. Three of Tiripano’s four wickets are that of the South African top-order.
For South Africa, Lizaad Williams has done the bulk of the damage. His 4 wickets have come at an average of 12, maintaining an economy of 3.4 RPO.
After missing out in the opening game, Ryan Rickelton made full use of the opportunity he got at the top of the order. Despite losing a quick wicket and amidst a disciplined bowling, he maintained his composure and laced a vital innings of 63 off 82.
The captain Heinrich Klaasen added finishing touches in both games. He followed his 59 with a brisk innings of 28* off 16. So is the case with Milton Shumba. The Zimbabwean has two unbeaten scores: 45* and 31*.
Match Preview
Losing wickets in a cluster cost Zimbabwe XI the second game. The stop and start due to rain affected their momentum, and by the time the conditions became unplayable, Zimbabwe XI found themselves short by 51 runs (D/L method).
The series is nicely levelled at 1-1. With rain likely to play spoilsport yet again, toss will play a big factor. Batting second is advantageous during such times. There is always a score on paper.
Time: April 29, 12:45 PM IST