Zimbabwe continue to impress and look poise to continue their recent resurgence after falling into a void of darkness in international cricket.
Desperate and hopeful to get back their Test status, Zimbabwe will go into the Bloemfontein game on 15 October full of encouragement despite losing both T20 games. Their bowling looked below par and they would look for a better backing from their bowlers. Bloemfontein pitch would suit batsmen more and Zimbabwe would again look to Prosper Utseya, who has been impressive so far.
The Zimbabwean pace bowling had many holes and they would want their pacemen to lift their game. Batting has been a pillar of strength for Zimbabwe. Chamu Chibhabha is in supreme form, while H. Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura the captain and Brendon Taylor could prove to be a tough assignment for South African bowlers who are also struggling with bowling and fielding. Zimbabwe, now reborn with ambitions and pride would back themselves to win the game and maybe the series.
Zimbabwae are a resurging side, they have won three out of their last five ODIs.
South Africa are in good position going into the game on Friday. Many of their key batsmen are in good form. Graeme Smith was brutal in the two T20s. JP Duminy was also impressive with the bat.
AB de Villiers, now keeping wickets in Boucher’s absence returns to boost their batting line up. Graeme Smith will lead the ODI team. He resigned from T20 captaincy recently. Smith would want his players to perform better in the field; their fielding particularly in the first game was abysmal.
The other headache for South Africa is their bowling. They looked worryingly flat without Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. South Africa now hungry for silverware set their eyes on World Cup next year, knowing that they have to improve their bowling if they want their dream realized. The Bloemfontein pitch will go well with South Africans more, as their giant batting order consisting of Graeme Smith, JP Duminy Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis will look to pile up the runs.
South Africa have won all their five last games.