Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Betting Tips 07/05/2021

May 5, 2021
Zohaib Ahmed
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
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Pakistan Pakistan

Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Betting Tips 07/05/2021

Teams Status

Pakistan

The T20I series had its surprises, including a defeat, but it was expected that the Test series would be a lot more lopsided in Pakistan’s favour. The logic behind that the longer the format, the lesser the chances for anything out of the ordinary as weaker teams usually get found out over longer periods than shorter bursts.

Thus, Babar Azam’s men were supremely clinical in the opening Test, securing an innings win and finishing their opponents inside three days.

There were no negatives whatsoever as the bowlers bowled out Zimbabwe twice for meager scores while the batters, in just one outing, piled up so many runs that they did not have to bat again.

The only thing left for critics was the fact that Pakistan, despite knowing the caliber of their opponents, still played a very strong line-up full of regular players. The only exception was off-spinner Sajid Khan, who made his debut.

Analyst Ramiz Raja recently urged the team management to try newbies and fringe players such as pacer Shahnawaz Dahani but it remains to be seen if any risks will be taken.

Zimbabwe

When Zimbabwe visited Pakistan late last year and also in the recent T20I series, there were positives for Zimbabwe even if they lost most of the times. In the first Test, however, there was very little – at least not on the batting side.

Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani’s four-for was impressive but everything else was substandard. Across two innings, the hosts’ batters could not muster even a single half-century, with their individual highest being Roy Kaia’s 48.

Zimbabwe have yet to announce the squad for second Test, and this delay suggests that there could be a few changes on the horizon.

What do the Sportsbook Say

Pakistan are heavy favourites on all three of our favourite books. Bet365 has them as 1.14 favourites and Zimbabwe as 14.0 underdogs and draw at 8.0. 22Bet has Pakistan at 1.14, Zimbabwe at 14.5 and draw at 8.9. LeoVegas has Pakistan at 1.13, Zimbabwe at 13.0 and draw at 9.5.

Tipster’s Angle

Tip: Best player of the match – Babar Azam @ 6

Babar Azam, arguably the most stylish and consisted batsman in the world, almost never fails. He almost certainly doesn’t lose his wicket for a zero, and he getting out on first ball is as rare as a unicorn. But that’s exactly what happened to him in the first Test’s only outing. A trap was laid by deploying a fielder in an unusual position and he was forced to play a straight drive, which landed in that very fielder’s hands.

Babar is also an accumulator extraordinaire, and once he fails, he comes back with a bigger desire than ever to make runs. A big Babar Azam special could be on the way.

Tip: Zimbabwe, Runs at Fall of Wicket 1 Over 18.5 @ 1.832

After being rested in the entire T20 series, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi played the first Test. Hasan Ali, who also played and was named man of the match, has also been playing nonstop cricket for a while. There is a chance that one or both of the two could be rested, making way for someone such as Shahnawaz Dahani or Tabish Khan. If that happens, Zimbabwe openers will have a much easier time in weathering the early storm.

Conclusion

Any version of this Pakistan, no matter how weakened due to rests and experimentation, should prove too strong for Zimbabwe.

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