Zimbabwe vs West Indies, ZIM vs WI, Today Match Prediction 12 February 2023

zim vs win Match Prediction & Analysis

After a fascinating first test, Zimbabwe will host West Indies in the second Test at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on 12th Feb from 1:30 pm IST. The first Test ended in a draw after a fighting comeback from the home side. Zimbabwe stands a rare chance to win a test series after a gap of 12 years. But West Indies haven’t lost a test against Zimbabwe. They are unbeaten in 11 Tests played against Zimbabwe.

West Indies declared the first innings of the first test on 447 for the loss of 6 wickets. Openers Kriag Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chandrapaul scored centuries to put a stand of 336 runs for the first wicket. All-rounder Brendon Mavuta took 5 wickets for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s openers started the chase with Innocent keia's half-century. But it was Garry Balance’s unbeaten century and a 135 runs partnership with Brendon Mavuta (56) that took Zimbabwe 68 runs within West Indies’ reach. 

West Indies once again declared the second innings on 203 after the fifties from Raymon Reifer and Jermaine Blackwood. The 272 runs chase became difficult for Zimbabwe after spinner Gudakesh Motie took 4 wickets. Middle-order batters Tafadzwa Tsiga and Wellington Maskzada made sure to draw the test at the end. Chandrapaul was named Man of the match for his 222 runs.

This was Zimbabwe’s first draw at home after a gap of 5 years. The second test will be crucial for the home team as they have a slight chance to win a test series at home since 2011. But West Indies have a strong chance to not let it happen. They haven’t seen a loss against the home side throughout their career. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Zimbabwe Preview

Zimbabwe gave a debut to Innocent Kaia and Tanunurwa Makoni. The debutant who made a fifty runs opening partnership are expected to open in the second Test too. Kaia, who has been part of Zimbabwe’s ODI & T20I teams for over 2 years, will be the player to watch. At number three, Zimbabwe should think of sending Gary Balance. This can capitalize on the use of the Craig Irvine and Balance partnership at the early stages. Irvine, who is managing the squad in the absence of Sean Williams, has a decent record in Tests. He has scored 1238 runs in 19 tests at an average of 34.38. He has scored 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries. That’s why Zimbabwe should consider sending Balance up the order to put a solid partnership at the top.

Gary Balance made a comeback in International Cricket after getting released from England. He scored an unbeaten century (137*) to become the only second player to register centuries for two countries. Balance has 1653 runs in 24 tests with 5 centuries and 7 half-centuries. With an average of 47.74 and a record of scoring 42 centuries in  171 First-class matches, Balance is the most experienced player in the Zimbabwe squad. He is our choice for the top batter from the home squad. Zimbabwe should go back to Donald Tiripano over Chamu Chibhabha. He is Zimbabwe’s leading run scorer (last two years) in the current squad. Besides this, the all-rounder is the leading wicket-taker for the home team, too, for the same time span.

Wellington Maskzada will lead the bowling attack with Brad Evans and Victor Nayuchi. Nayuchi is Zimbabwe’s second-leading wicket-taker in the tests played since 2021. In 4 tests, he has taken 9 wickets. Brandon Mavuta’s addition helped Zimbabwe survive the first test. Mavuta took a five-fer in the first innings and then partnered with Balance for the 8th wicket ( 135 runs) to score 56 runs. Zimbabwe will be without the key players in this series due to injuries and T20 league commitments. 

Key Players: Sean Williams, Gary Balance, Wellington Maskzada.

Zimbabwe Predicted Playing XI:

Innocent Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine (c), Gary Ballance, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Brandon Mavuta, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Richard Ngarava

Zimbabwe Actual Playing XI:

Chamu Chibhabha, Brandon Mavuta, Victor Nyauchi, Craig Ervine, Wellington Masakadza, Milton Shumba, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Tanaka Chivanga, Tanunurwa Makoni, Innocent Kaia, Donald Tiripano

West Indies Preview

Tagenarine Chandrapaul! That’s his name. West Indies has finally found someone to open with Kraig Brathwaite. Chandrapaul scored a double century in the first innings of the first test to become the first to score a century as an opener outside of Brathwaite since 2013. Chandrapaul now have 382 runs in 6 innings at an average of 76.40. Chandrapaul and Brathwaite scored a whopping 336 runs for the first wicket. Brathwaite scored his 12th century (186). He is West Indies’ leading run-scorer in the tests played over the last two years. In 17 tests, he has 1473 runs with 4 centuries and 8 half-centuries. He is our choice for the top batter. 

Jermaine Blackwood and Raymon Reifer in the middle have boosted the squad depth of the visitors. Blackwood has scored 825 runs in 17 tests played over the last two years and sitting just below Brathwaite in the runs table. The duo scored 107 runs partnership for the third wicket in the second innings with individual fifties. With Roston chase, Kyle Myers, and Joshua Da Silva, West Indies have enough squad depth to win the test.

Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph will lead the bowling attack with Kyle Myers and Jason Holder. Roach has been the leading wicket-taker for West Indies for the last two years, with 49 wickets in 14 tests. Joseph (38 wickets), Holder ( 29 wickets), and Myers (27 wickets) are expected to create havoc at Bulawayo. Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie will be the obvious choices for the Spin.

Key Players: Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kemar Roach.

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach.

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Joshua Da Silva, Raymon Reifer, Gudakesh Motie, Shannon Gabriel, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kraigg Brathwaite

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather will be cloudy, with thunderstorms expected on all five days. The temperature will range between 16 and 27°C. The wind will be flowing from the west at 11-18 kmh. The pitch assists the batters in the first innings but switches its allegiance to the spinners as the match progresses . 

Venue Details

The 2nd Test will be played at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on 12th Feb from 1:30 pm IST. The venue holds a capacity of 9000 spectators and has hosted 24 Tests, 82 ODIs & 12 T20Is so far. The venue is one of the oldest, opened in 1890. Sri Lanka has registered the highest total of 713 runs at this venue, with Atapattu and Sangakkara scoring double-centuries.

Toss: To Bowl

In all 15 Tests that ended up in the results, the team batting second has won on 11 occasions. The team winning the toss should bowl first. With a strong unit, it won’t matter for West Indies to bat or ball first.