After losing three back-to-back matches, hosts Zimbabwe will take on India again in the fourth game of the five-match bilateral series 2013 on Thursday. The match will be played at Queens Sports Club. It was scheduled to play on Wednesday but was postponed by a day due to general elections in the African country.
The game will begin at 01:30 PM IST on Thursday and it will be broadcast live in India on Ten Cricket.
Overview:
Zimbabwe will come into the contest after losing the five-match ODI series, losing three consecutive matches. They lost the first match by six wickets, second one by 58 runs and the third one by seven wickets. They will be keen to win at least the remaining games.
India have won the series 3-0 though there are two more games to be played. They have outperformed Zimbabwe in all the departments despite poor form of some batsmen. The way they wrapped up the previous game in 35.3 overs with the fall of three wickets has revealed their superiority. Now, they will be keen for a complete whitewash.
Previous Meetings:
India have 42-10 win-loss and two tie record against Zimbabwe in 54 meetings. India defeated Zimbabwe in the last three matches of the series.
Team News:
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbara and Visu Sibanda performed well in the first two matches but failed in the previous game. Hamilton Masakadza (38) and Sean Williams (45) were the top scorers in the third ODI. Their middle order continues to struggle, and that has cost them dear.
The bowlers looked ordinary too in the previous game, taking only three wickets. Brian Vitori, Tendai Chatara and Michael Chinouya were the wicket takers. They need to out in their acts together and restrict the score of the opponents.
India: Skipper Virat Kohli scored a half century (68 not out) in the previous match at the back of a well-struck century. Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina too contributed to the total and helped the team wrap up the game with 14.3 overs to spare.
On the bowling front, Amit Mishra is good form this series, taking four wickets in the previous match too. Shami Ahmed took two wickets, while Jaydev Unadkat, Vinay Kumar and Virat Kohli took a wicket apiece.
Prediction:
India are favourite to win the fourth ODI.
Squads:
Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (c), Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Michael Chinouya, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai M'shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams
India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Parveez Rasool, Shami Ahmed, R Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma
