Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand, 3rd ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

It's all square between Zimbabwe and New Zealand as the two teams head into the third and final ODI in Harare on Friday.

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare

Date: Friday, August 7

Start time: 9 a.m. local time; 8 a.m. BST

Live on: Ten Sports

Weather: AccuWeather.com promises a delightfully sunny 23 degrees Celsius, with plenty of sunshine. 

Overview

It's been a series of two halves for hosts Zimbabwe. In their first outing, they came out trumps, chasing down over 300, with six balls to spare, to claim a seven-wicket win. The tables turned in the next match, as New Zealand claimed an emphatic 10-wicket victory. The only constant so far has been that the team that bats first wins.

New Zealand have seen three different batsmen score three centuries, with Kane Williamson falling three runs short of making it four. Zimbabwe, too, have had two centuries, one which came from a lower-order batsmen during their loss.

Zimbabwe's biggest concern at this stage is their bowling. During the win in the first ODI, Zim's bowlers managed just three wickets, and although none of them were overly expensive (Chris Mpofu was carted for 84 in 10 overs), they seemed to run out of plans.

Their struggles were compounded in the second ODI were the bowlers failed to take even a solitary wicket. The hosts should be familiar with the conditions by new and familiar with their opposition, too. If they have any hope of claiming a rare series victory, the bowlers will have to step it up.

Key players

Zimbabwe

As already mentioned, Zimbabwe's bowlers need to step it up if they are to take a positive result from this match. Tinashe Panyangara is the hosts' most successful bowler thus far, having claimed two scalps. They have come at a rather high average of 40.00, so his fellow bowlers will need to support him in order to get the best out.

New Zealand

Kane Williamson has consistently proven that he is a reliable batsman for the Black Caps. Although he did not get the chance to bat in the second ODI, a good knock in the first match will mean he's got his eye in and New Zealand can turn to him should the top order flop.

Squads

Zimbabwe

Elton Chigumbura (capt), Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Tinashe Panyangara, Christopher Mpofu, John Nyumbu, Vusi Sibanda, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva.

New Zealand

Kane Williamson (captain), Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wicketkeeper), Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Ben Wheeler, George Worker.