Nepal vs Zimbabwe A Match Prediction – Who will win today’s 1st Unofficial ODI between Nepal and Zimbabwe A?

Nepal will be locking horns with Zimbabwe A in the first Unofficial One Day International at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on May 6. Both teams have been evenly matched in the bilateral series. The T20 leg saw the teams share the honours with one match being washed out.

The hosts showed great character and commitment and won the third T20I as they bounced back in style to register an emphatic eight-wicket win to level the three-match T20 series at 1-1. The coin landed in favour of Nepal who put the opposition in to bat and restricted them to 136/7 which was eventually chased down by them without breaking any sweat courtesy of Aasif Sheikh’s unbeaten knock of 87 runs from 54 deliveries.

Nepal vs Zimbabwe A, 1st unofficial ODI

Venue: Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur

Date & Time:  May 6, at 9:15 am IST

Live Streaming: Official YouTube channel of CricTracker, FanCode

Pitch Report

Looking at how this entire series has turned out to be so far, team winning the toss will prefer chasing with the surface assisting the batters in the second innings in spite of it being a high-scoring encounter. Another interesting aspect of this strategy is since it is a day game, the dew factor will not be making its presence felt in any manner which will make batting easy later on as the contest progresses.

Thus, the captain who calls it right at the toss will have absolutely no hesitation in asking the opposition team to bat first and make the first use of the surface.

Probable Playing XIs for Nepal and Zimbabwe A

Nepal

Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aadil Ansari, Bhim Sharki, Karan KC, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane (c), Abinash Bohara.

Zimbabwe A

Innocent Kaia, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga (c), Clive Madande (wk), Kudzai Maunze, Roy Kaia, Brandon Mavuta, Brad Evans, John Masara, Luke Jongwe, Victor Nyauchi.

Probable best batter of the Match: Aasif Sheikh

Aasif Sheikh has been one of  Nepal’s most consistent performers and in fact, he was their runaway match-winner in the last game as well. Sheikh’s unbeaten knock of a 54-ball 87 helped the hosts in chasing down 137 with ease. Therefore, the Zimbabwe A bowlers must chalk out a plan in order to get rid of him early on.

Should the explosive batter get set in the middle, then he has the potential to take the game away from the opposition and that is exactly what Nepal would be expecting from him.

Probable best bowler of the Match: Sandeep Lamichhane

Sandeep Lamichhane broke Zimbabwe A’s backbone in the previous game with his match-winning figures of 2/25. The promising wrist-spinner can be very lethal with the ball in hand and can break some well-set partnerships in the middle phase of the innings. The youngster would be oozing with confidence after his heroics a couple of days ago.

The Zimbabwean batters need to be cautious while taking him on as he can bamboozle them with some extraordinary deliveries which they might fail to pick at the very last moment after pitching.

Today’s Match Prediction: Chasing side to win the match.

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.