Singapore T20I Tri-Series: Singapore vs Zimbabwe, 6th T20I, Preview – Focus on Tim David and Amjad Mahboob as Singapore brace for a do-or-die encounter

So, this is it then! After a week of pulsating action, outstanding hitting, prudent bowling spells, historic wins, one-sided gamed and off-course a damp squib, we are down to the last league-stage match of the Singapore T20I series. And, what a contest it promises to be.

After persistent rain forced the game to be abandoned, the significance of the last league-stage match between Singapore and Zimbabwe has increased many folds. For Zimbabwe, courtesy back-to-back victories over Nepal, they’ll have scores to settle against the hosts.

The last time these two sides met, history was made by Singapore as they went to claim their maiden T20I win against a full-membered nation. Zimbabwe’s problem in this series has been the inconsistency of their batting unit. While in some games, their lower-middle has fired and in others, it has been their top-order. But, never in unison. But one thing has been a constant: Sean Williams. The skipper has led from the front thus far with both bat and ball, but he’ll hope that their batting can -for once- play as a unit tomorrow.

As for Singapore, the equation is pretty clear. They win, they go through. They lose, Nepal goes through. Will Timothy David and Amjad Mahboob do an encore of what they did in their first meeting against Zimbabwe? Or will Zimbabwe avenge that defeat?

Team Combination

Singapore: Singapore’s batting has been the reason for their success in the tournament thus far. The likes of Rohan Rangarajan [39], Surendran Chandramohan [23], Timothy David [41] and Manpreet Singh [41] were the cornerstone of their win against Zimbabwe. They will once again be the key to the hosts’ fortunes.  The bowling unit, as usual, will be spearheaded by skipper Amjad Mahboob [2-20] and Janak Prakash [2-34]. The duo was instrumental in Singapore successfully defending their total despite a 19-ball 48 by Regis Chakabva and a 35-ball 66 by skipper Sean Williams.

Probable XI

Rohan Rangarajan, Surendran Chandramohan, Tim David, Aritra Dutta, Manpreet Singh (wk), Janak Prakash, Sidhant Singh, Selladore Vijaykumar, Amjad Mahboob (C), Vinoth Baskaran, Aahan Gopinath Achar

Bench: Avi Dixit, Navin Param, Anantha Krishna, Aryaman Sunil, Arjun Mutreja, Utsav Rakshit, Rezza Gaznavi

Zimbabwe: The African nation will hope that their batting unit finally comes good in unison. In the last game against Singapore, apart from Chakabva [48] and Sean Williams [66], none of the batters could pose any resistance. Similarly in the other games, where their top-order has failed, the lower middle-order has come up with goods, as Burl and Richmond Mutumbami did in the first game. Sean Williams will hope that their batting fires in unison.

In the last game against Nepal, Daniel Jakiel [1-17] and Tiotenda Mutombodzi [2-12] provided idea support to Sean Williams and Tendai Chatara [1-22]. The quartet should once again lead the bowling unit.

Probable Playing XI:

Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Peter Moor, Sean Williams (C), Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Ryan Burl, Richmond Mutumbami, William Mashinge, Daniel Jakiel, Tendai Chatara, Tony Munyonga

Bench: Craig Ervine, Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza

The focus will be on

Amjad Mahboob [SNG]: Amjad Mahboob’s match-winning spell of 2-20 in a high-scoring game against Zimbabwe told us how much Singapore missed their spearhead during the shellacking they received at the hands of Paras Khadka in one of the earlier games. Mahboob claimed the all-important wicket of Sean Williams in the last game to seal the deal for his team. His battle with Williams might well decide the fate of the game tomorrow.

Sean Williams [ZIM]: At the start of the series, we talked about how Williams needed to lead from the front with his precocious all-round skills. And By God! Hasn’t he done that? After a lean start, his scores in the last two games are 66 of 35 & 53 off 35 balls. Besides that, he also took 3-21 in the last game against Nepal to seal a 40-run win for his side.

Stat Attack

1st- The 4-run win by Singapore in their last encounter against Zimbabwe gave them their maiden T20I win over a full-membered nation. Can they do an encore tomorrow?

2- Consecutive half-centuries for Sean Williams thus far. Can the Zimbabwe captain make it three in a row?

Live streaming & Broadcasters: Willow TV (Canada), Fan code (India), Wec Sports (Singapore).

Timing: 5:00 PM IST | 7:30 PM local | 11:30 AM GMT