ACCORDING TO OUR REPORTS
TOSS WINNER – AFGANISTAN
MATCH WINNER – AFGANISTAN
AFG VS ZIM MATCH PREDICTION
Cricket, and particularly T20 cricket, is a game of momentum. Confidence is a major factor in determining the outcome of matches, as seen by the series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Afghanistan unexpectedly seems to be a fantastic side after a brilliant victory in the second test. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, seemed deflated after their loss in the first T20I of the series.
With the series on the line, all eyes will be on Zimbabwe, who will be looking to level the series. Stuff will not be easy for them, and they will face a major challenge in Rashid Khan. We anticipate a much closer match than the first, and a thrilling game is in the offing. On March 19, 2021, it will be held at the same site, Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
TEAM PREVIEWS
AFGHANISTAN
There could not have been a great way to come back from a landslide defeat in the first match of the tour. Afghanistan has since won two major matches, one in Tests and the other in Twenty20 Internationals. They’ve gathered momentum, and in the shortest version of the game, a motivated team is still tough to defeat.
Though their spinners have always been their strongest suit, it was exciting to see Afghanistan’s batsmen put them in a driving role in the first match. Before Asghar Afghan chipped in with a quick-fire fifty to provide a thriving end to Afghanistan’s innings, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Karim Janat got them off to a great start. Gurbaz was the match’s best batsman, scoring 87 runs off just 45 deliveries.
Regardless of the team for which he has appeared, Rashid Khan has become a standout in the format. He has also proved to be a game-changing player in this series whenever he has been inserted into the action. He also returned with excellent figures of 4-0-28-3 in the previous match, bringing Zimbabwe down just as they were about to unleash a late attack.
The fact that Afghanistan’s batting was not too dependent on one man proved to be a crucial factor in their performance. With such a strong start, their batsmen could afford to come in and hit the ball hard right away. It will also be their strategy in the upcoming match. The presence of several all-rounders in the centre gives Afghanistan power and balance. They have an extremely well-balanced team, and getting past them would be a big obstacle for the Zimbabweans.
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe seemed to be a stronger team after winning the first match by a large margin. They shook off the loss of their mainstays and won the first match convincingly. However, the lack of knowledge has been abundantly clear since then. They are down after back-to-back defeats, but they still realise they are capable of beating this Afghan team.
Zimbabwe does not have any immediate targets or pressure to finalise their playing eleven because they will not be featuring in the T20 World Cup. Though they’ll be excited to bring their bench strength to the test and find their best T20I mix, they’ll still want to win this match. They have a heavy season ahead of them, and they’d like to win the bulk of their games, starting with this one.
Zimbabwe came close in the previous match, but struggled to close down high-pressure moments. Their bowlers consistently struggled to remain in the close areas at the death. They seemed to be in a good place with the bat halfway through their innings, but their lack of firepower at the lower end of their innings hindered their chase.
Apart from experience, Zimbabwe has about everything a player wants to succeed in the game’s shortest style. They have a top-order that can play big shots, as shown by their success in the previous match. They have a versatile squad of Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, and Ryan Burl, and if they can play to their ability, they shouldn’t be an easy team to contend with.