Who Will Win Zimbabwe vs South Africa 1st ODI?
Zimbabwe are set to begin their two-week long tour of South Africa with a three-match ODI series. The first one-day international is scheduled to be played on September 30 at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley. Live action will begin at 10 AM local time.
SA vs Zim: Where to Watch/Live Streaming
TV channels: Sony Six, Fox Sports, SuperSport, OSN Sports Cricket HD
Live Streaming: Bet365, SonyLIV, Foxtel Sports, OSN Play
Toss Prediction
The Diamond Oval has hosted 17 one-day internationals till date out of which 11 (including three of the last four) have been won by the side fielding first. Since the wicket at this venue tends to become relatively easier to bat on during the second period of play, the toss-winning captain will probably elect to bowl first.
Read on for team previews, betting odds, betting tips and match prediction for SA vs Zim 1st ODI...
South Africa Team News & Playing 11
SA Team News
South Africa have been hit with a couple of injury blows. Opening batsman Hashim Amla and captain Faf du Plessis have been ruled out of the ODI series with finger and shoulder injuries respectively. While Dean Elgar has been added to the squad as replacement for Amla, JP Duminy has been named stand-in skipper for the ODI series. Batsman Christiaan Jonker has earned his maiden ODI call-up while Dale Steyn who last played an ODI for South Africa almost two years ago marks his return. The selectors have sidelined pace bowler Vernon Philander who is currently recovering from an ankle injury. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has been released from the squad to play in a domestic-level tournament.
SA Key Players
With Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis not around, South Africa's batting will depend mainly on the likes of Aiden Markram, JP Duminy and Dean Elgar. Stand-in skipper Duminy scored the most runs for his side in the last ODI series against Sri Lanka. He is the most experienced batsman in this line-up and he is going to be the key man for the Proteas. Markram has been pretty impressive at the international level and the team will be hoping for a strong opening stand between him and Elgar. South Africa have a quality bowling attack with Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Dale Steyn being the major threats. Steyn is the team's leading ODI wicket-taker from this squad. The pacer is making a comeback after a long layoff and he will be raring to go. Ngidi was their best bowler in the Sri Lanka ODI series with 10 wickets in 4 matches while Rabada's express pace generally troubles the batsmen on South African pitches.
SA Recent Form
South Africa have won six of their last eight bilateral ODI series. After last year's Champions Trophy where they failed to make it past the group stage, the Proteas beat Bangladesh 3-0 at home, then lost a home series 1-5 to India before winning their last series 3-2 against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. They secured the series by winning the first three matches on the bounce but lost the last two matches. South Africa now have four wins and seven defeats from the eleven one-day internationals they have played this year.
South Africa Predicted Playing 11
Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Jean-Paul Duminy (c), Reeza Hendricks, Khaya Zondo, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Christiaan Jonker/Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn
Zimbabwe Team News & Playing 11
Zim Team News
The return of Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine has given Zimbabwe a big boost ahead of their tour to South Africa. The trio had earlier made themselves unavailable for selection due to a prolonged pay dispute with the Zimbabwean cricket board. Though Sikandar Raza has been handed a contract by the board, he has not been included in the side for this tour. Apart from Raza, former captain Graeme Cremer has also been sidelined after having undergone a knee surgery recently. However, Solomon Mire who has recovered completely from his injury and Kyle Jarvis who is undergoing rehabilitation have been included in the 15-man squad and the latter is expected to fully recover in time for this game.
Zim Key Players
Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Peter Moor are the big guns in this Zimbabwean batting line-up. Taylor is their third-highest run-getter in the 50-over format and he will be looking to mark his return to international cricket with a big knock. Masakadza scored the most runs for Zimbabwe in their last ODI series against Pakistan and the onus will be on the opener to provide a good start to the innings. Williams is also one of the more experienced batsmen in the side and he has a century and 27 fifties in this format. Elton Chigumbura has taken the most ODI wickets for Zimbabwe from this current squad and he is going to be one of the skipper's go-to men when it comes to bowling. Tendai Chatara has 76 wickets in 57 matches and the fast bowler will be backed by his team to provide the early the breakthroughs. Wellington Masakadza has been pretty impressive in his short career and the left-arm spinner will have a big role to play in the middle overs.
Zim Recent Form
Zimbabwe last won an ODI series last year in Sri Lanka when they defeated the hosts 3-2. After that series, they failed to reach the final of the tri-series in Bangladesh, lost to Afghanistan 1-4 in the UAE, could not qualify for the 2019 World Cup through the qualifying tournament held at home and then suffered a 0-5 drubbing at the hands of Pakistan in what was their most recently played ODI series. So far this year, Zimbabwe have played 20 one-day internationals out of which they have won five, tied one against Scotland and lost the rest.
Zimbabwe Predicted Playing 11
Hamilton Masakadza (c), Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarvis, Donald Tiripano, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chatara
Sep 30, 2018
13:30 IST / 8:00 GMT
Diamond Oval - Kimberley, South Africa
SA vs ZIM 
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