A General View of Harare Sports Club | Source: X.com
India and Zimbabwe are set to lock horns in the first T20I of their five-match series on July 6 at Harare Sports Club, Harare.
Overview
The Indian cricket team, led by captain Shubhman Gill, will look to extend their unbeaten record in T20Is, fresh off their World T20 win. On the other hand, Zimbabwe will be looking to challenge the champions with a strong performance on home turf.
IND vs ZIM: Harare Sports Club Pitch Report
The pitch at Harare Sports Club is renowned for its even pace and bounce, which is ideal for stroke play. Batters should find favourable conditions to express themselves freely.
During day matches, Harare Sports Club tends to assist fast bowlers early on, particularly in the morning when the new ball is in play. Spinners could also come into play later in the match, exploiting any turn on offer.
However, for an afternoon game like this, the pitch is expected to be relatively dry, offering a flat surface which is conducive to batting.
Harare Sports Club Ground Stats
Harare Sports Club has hosted 41 T20I matches to date. Teams batting first have won 23 times, while chasing teams have emerged victorious in 18 matches.
Average run rate: 7.65
Matches won batting first: 23
Matches won batting second: 18
Matches won winning toss: 22
Matches won losing toss: 19
Matches tied: 0
Matches with no result: 0
Highest individual innings: 172 by A J Finch (Australia) on 03/07/2018 against Zimbabwe
Best bowling figures: 5/20 by Mosaddeck Hossain (Bangladesh) on 31/07/2022 against Zimbabwe
Highest team innings: 229/2 by Australia on 03/07/2018 against Zimbabwe
Lowest team innings: 99 by Pakistan on 23/04/2021 against Zimbabwe
Highest run chase achieved: 194/5 by Bangladesh on 25/07/2021 against Zimbabwe
Average runs per wicket: 23.58
Average score batting first: 156
Harare Sports Club: Batting or Bowling Pitch?
Given that it’s the series opener, the pitch is unlikely to deteriorate much in the later half of the game. Therefore, winning the toss and opting to bowl first might be advantageous.
