Zimbabwe vs. India: Complete 5th ODI Preview, Team News and Predictions

Zimbabwe host India in the fifth and final one-day international at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday, with only pride at stake for the home team.

Brendan Taylor’s men presently trail the world champions 4-0 in the current five-match series as we head into the finale this weekend, and the Zimbabwe captain will be absolutely desperate to avoid the ignominy of a 5-0 whitewash.

However, the omens are not good for the hosts after the first four ODIs with Zimbabwe, rather than improving with each match, seemingly getting worse if Thursday’s meek showing in Bulawayo is anything to go by.

After calling on his batsman to “front up” and support his beleaguered bowlers more in the buildup to the game at the Queens Sports Club, the Zimbabwe batsmen then proceeded to turn in their worst display of the series so far, which is saying something.

"Our bowlers haven't done much wrong,” said Taylor just prior to the fourth ODI.

“They've been in good form, and if we'd held our catches they would have had a lot more reward. They've been doing the right things. I think the batters need to back them up a little better, and certainly in the field we could be sharper."

And yet, having been put into bat by India skipper Virat Kohli, the home team were then bundled out for a meagre total of just 144 in only 42.4 overs, again failing to bat their full complement of 50 overs, a criminal offence in the limited-overs game.

However, even that paltry total still needed the help of an 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket between middle-order batsmen Malcolm Waller and Elton Chigumbura to rescue Zimbabwe from the depths of 47-5 after 15.1 overs.

Waller made 35 from 77 balls, while all-rounder Chigumbura contributed an unbeaten half-century off just 66 deliveries, an innings that included four fours as the No. 7 top scored for the hosts.

But those were the only highlights with the bat for Taylor and Co. as just four players reached double figures, while for the tourists, debutant seamer Mohit Sharma returned impressive bowling figures of two-for-26 from his allotted 10 overs, a spell that also included three maidens as the 24-year-old medium pacer picked up the man-of-the-match award for his efforts.

And India chased down their victory target for the loss of just one wicket, that of another man making his ODI debut, Cheteshwar Pujara, who made only 13 runs, before fellow opener Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina put on an unbeaten 122 for the second wicket to ease the visitors home with a mammoth 115 balls still left in the match.

Rohit made a classy 64 not out off just 90 deliveries, with two boundary fours, while big-hitting No. 3 Raina struck an equally fluent unbeaten 65 from only 71 balls, a knock that included six fours.

All of which now takes us up to the finale on the same ground this Saturday, with both sides expected to be unchanged from Thursday’s encounter.

Zimbabwe captain Taylor, truth be told, has few other options at his disposal to try and turn his side’s fortunes around. Meanwhile, in stark contrast, his opposite number, Kohli, who is leading the world champions in place of rested wicketkeeper MS Dhoni, has a wealth of talent to call upon if he so wishes.

However, having decided to use this trip to Southern Africa as a means of carrying on the recent successful process of bedding in the future generation of India stars via the one-day side, head coach Duncan Fletcher is likely to continue that approach in Bulawayo, a policy that served him well during his time in charge of England.

And that means the likes of highly promising young stars such as Mohit, middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu and left-arm paceman Jaydev Unadkat all being given a further chance to continue their international education at the Queens Sports Club.

But for the home side, they will need a miracle, or rain, to avoid the humiliation of a 5-0 clean sweep, with the latter looking their best hope at present.

Follow @Richiereds1976