Zimbabwe vs Ireland Prediction: Rain stopped the first game

Zimbabwe and Ireland are going head to head in the 2nd Match of One Day Series at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe on 15 Dec 2023. The first game ended which helped Zimbabwe escape a defeat. Can they bounce back and who will win this game of cricket?

In the opening game of the series, the Zimbabwe batters got off to a decent start, with the openers each contributing 28 runs. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe deserves recognition for his fast 28 runs, reminiscent of a T20 game. He managed to hit four boundaries and one six during his innings. However, apart from Brandon Mavuta, who remained unbeaten on 28 runs from 22 balls with five fours, no other player made a significant contribution before the rain interrupted play. The Zimbabwe captain, Sikandar Raza, showed promise but was dismissed after scoring 15 runs.

Despite an average performance in their previous game, it is likely that the Zimbabwe team will stick with the same playing eleven for the second match. The current combination was not thoroughly tested, and the team will rely on batters like Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Clive Medande, and Brandon Mavuta to score more runs in the upcoming match. As for the bowling attack, Zimbabwe will once again depend on Richard Ngarava, Tanaka Chivanga, Luke Jongwe, and Blessing Muzarabani to take crucial wickets.

Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wessly Madhevere, Sean Williams (c), Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Ryan Burl, Brian Bennett, Clive Madande (wk), Luke Jongwe, Trevor Gwandu, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani

The Ireland bowlers received applause from their supporters for their impressive display in the opening one-day international match. They effectively restricted Zimbabwe, reducing them to a score of 121 for six in 25.3 overs before rain interrupted the game. Graham Hume and Craig Young emerged as the key performers, claiming two wickets each and causing trouble for Zimbabwe's middle order. Additionally, Josh Little contributed by taking one wicket, although conceding some runs in the process.

Although the performance of Ireland's openers was not witnessed in this particular match, they will once again place their trust in players like Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Curits Campher, George Dockrell, and Lorcan Tucker to contribute significantly with the bat. On the bowling front, Josh Little, Craig Young, Graham Hume, and Mark Adair will shoulder the responsibility, as they form a reliable and experienced attack. They aim to secure crucial wickets during Zimbabwe's innings, while Andy McBrine is also expected to make substantial contributions with the ball.

Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling (c), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young, Joshua Little

It is anticipated that the pitch will slow down as the game progresses. Historically, the Harare Sports Club track has not been conducive to high scores, leading to the likelihood of the team winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. The captain who wins the toss will prioritize knowing the target score. The venue can accommodate 10,000 spectators, and if weather conditions permit, a significant crowd is expected. However, there may be light showers during the afternoon. The temperature throughout the game will range from 25 to 29 degrees, with sunny weather in the afternoon and evening. The relative humidity suggests dry conditions. Considering Zimbabwe's home-ground advantage, they were initially considered the favourites in this series. However, the disciplined bowling performance by the Ireland team put Zimbabwe in a difficult position before the rain interrupted play. Consequently, it is now anticipated that Ireland will have the upper hand in this match.