Can Zimbabwe extend their Harare form?

Match facts

September 11, Harare
Start time 0930 (0730 GMT)

The Big Picture

Pakistan could wrap up the ODI series in Harare, with a match to spare for experimentation. They held their nerve in a tense victory on Thursday, but will want to consolidate their position by turning in a more dominant performance this time.

For that, they will need a better start from the opening batsmen and bigger contributions from the middle order. If that happens, and is complimented with the same feistiness Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq showed in the first match, the batting line-up will provide a formidable challenge to Zimbabwe. Pakistan's fast bowlers can look forward to a more helpful surface and Zimbabwe will have to steel themselves to contend with the likes of Aizaz Cheema in more accommodating conditions. The visiting spinners did a good containing job in the first match and much of the same will be expected of them in Harare.

Zimbabwe will want to prove their performance against Bangladesh was not a one-off. They have left the curse of Bulawayo behind and return to the happy hunting ground of Harare. The venue itself should lift the home team, who prefer the bounce and carry of the Harare pitch to the slower surface in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe's bowling attack will be more comfortable with the slight assistance they will receive, although coach Alan Butcher acknowledged that they will have to work harder against Pakistan than they did against Bangladesh.

On the whole, Zimbabwe have shown signs of progress, remaining competitive until the final over of the first ODI and scoring over 240 runs in the chase. They also impressed with the ball, reining Pakistan in to a manageable total after Younis got off to a flier. All that effort amounted to nothing in the results column though, so Zimbabwe will have to remind themselves not to get too demoralised by defeat and to continue to learn as the summer progresses.

Form guide (most recent first)

Zimbabwe LLLWW
Pakistan WWWLL

In the spotlight

Hamiltom Masakadza has embodied the poor form of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, having scored only 43 runs in the three ODIs there this summer. He also failed in the Test match and has been persisting through a mini-lean patch that he will want to end soon. While his technique has improved and his maturity is now evident, Masakadza has to get on top of bowling attacks more, especially since he bats at the crucial No. 3 spot. He has been out in single figures in nine of his last 15 ODI innings and will want to show that he can be more consistent. Masakadza's medium-pacers have also become key partnership breakers for Zimbabwe and he will enjoy the chance to bowl again, if it is given to him.

His return to international cricket went almost unnoticed, but Shoaib Malik will want to prove that he still has what it takes to perform at the top level. He was out to an outlandish catch from Tatenda Taibu in Bulawayo, after facing only five balls, so spending some time at the crease is bound to at the top of Malik's agenda after being out of the game for over a year. The last time he played a big innings was during the Champions Trophy in 2009, when Pakistan beat India.

Team news

Zimbabwe are likely go back to their three-pronged seam attack, bringing back Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori. If they also include a spinner in Ray Price, it will mean shortening their batting line-up, something they have expressed concern over. Their other option is to use allrounder Greg Lamb as the solitary spinner and bolster the batting line-up. Malcolm Waller's position may in doubt in the middle order as Zimbabwe look to settle the number six and seven positions, and Craig Ervine could return.

Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Vusi Sibanda, 2 Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Tatenda Taibu, 6 Malcolm Waller/Craig Ervine, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Ray Price/Greg Lamb, 9 Brian Vitori, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Chris Mpofu.

Pakistan will also want to emphasise on pace, taking into account the Harare pitch, and would most likely retain a three-man seam attack. Junaid Khan was expensive and may be replaced with Sohail Khan, but Aizaz Cheema impressed and Sohail Tanvir should keep his place as well. Pakistan indicated that all 17 members of their squad will get a game and, so far, legspinner Yasir Shah, opening batsmen Rameez Raja and No. 3 Asad Shafiq are yet to play. Shah would have been more effective in Bulawayo and may have to sit out for now, but Rameez could replace Imran Farhat if Pakistan want to experiment.

Pakistan: (probable) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat/Rameez Raja, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Adnan Akmal, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Junaid Khan/Sohail Khan, 11 Aizaz Cheema.

Pitch and conditions

Brendan Taylor would say that the tour has finally moved out of the subcontinent when the match in Harare gets underway. Although the pitch will not offer as much bounce and movement as Taylor may want, there will definitely be more in it for the bowlers than there was in Bulawayo, negating the role of the spinners slightly. An all-round cricket surface, the pitch will also be easier to bat on and should produce a high-scoring contest. Harare is slightly cooler than Bulawayo, although with summer approaching, a warm day is expected.

Stats and trivia

• Of Taylor's four ODI hundreds, three have been in losing causes for Zimbabwe. The century that he scored in a victory was against Sri Lanka last year, and is Taylor's only ton in Harare.
• Younis' average against Zimbabwe is 50.85 - better than his average against any other team that he has played more than three matches against. He has never scored a hundred against them.

Quotes

"Different conditions in Harare may make us think of a different attack. Vitori's omission was tactical, but I'm sure he will play a role in Harare."
Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher indicates that his team's composition will change in Harare