After an impressive showing against the mighty South African team, Zimbabwe will take on UAE on the 19th February at Nelson. Despite losing by 62 runs in the first match, their batsmen did a good job by scoring 277 runs while chasing 340. Zimbabwe has a more experienced squad than UAE and they would be favourites to win the match. Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka in the warm-up match too.
Team Guide
Zimbabwe:
The Zimbabwe team has good batting line up. They have Chibabha and Raza at the top of the order, followed by Masakadza scoring 80 runs in the previous match, then experienced Brendon Taylor, Williams, Ervine and Chigmbura. All these players have the ability to play fast and put pressure on the inexperienced UAE bowling. The bowling also looked decent in the previous reducing South Africa to 83 for 4 before Millar and Duminy steadied the flow of wickets. The bowling looks decent with the likes of Panyangara, Chatara, and Kamungozi.
UAE:
The UAE team has played the World Cup once in 1996 finishing second last. Their captain is 42-year old named Mohammad Taquir. This team play cricket with associate nations but do not get a chance of playing with the big teams. The UAE team would look to start with win and it will be confidence booster if they beat a test playing nation. If they can string a good performance they can bring surprise element. With West Indies and Pakistan not playing good cricket, UAE has a chance of shocking.
Previous World Cup encounters:
It will be the first encounter between both of them.
Team news:
Zimbabwe are the favorites to win the match with their strong batting line up against an inexperienced team. They must play hard and do not allow UAE to play a positive game. UAE can surprise if they bowl and bat well. UAE have a point to prove that they have improved their and compete against the strong teams.
Key Players to watch out for
Zimbawawe: Hamilton Masakadza
He is the batsmen who play aggressive strokes. In the warm up match against Sri Lanka he stroke a 100 and helped Zimbwawe win the match. He has all the strokes in his armory and can destroy any bowling attack. In the first match against South Africa he scored 80 runs. Despite losing by 62 runs Masakadza performance stood out.
UAE: Khurram Khan
Khurram Khan the left handed batsmen of the team scored a well made 86 against Afghanistan in the warm up match. He is 43 years age. He bowls slow left arm bowling. With him in the team, he can become the main man for UAE.
Probable Playing XI
Zimbabwe:
Chamu Chibhabha, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Mazakadza, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura (c), Solomon Mire, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara, Tafadzwa Kamungozi
UAE:
Amjad Ali, Andri Berenger, Krishna Chandran, Khurram Khan, Swapnil Patil (wk), Shaiman Anwar, Rohan Mustafa, Mohammad Naveed, Amjad Javed, Mohammad Tauqir (c), Nasir Aziz.
Time 03:30 IST