Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier Tips - Hosts set to start positively at the top

By Sridhar Bhamidi

28 Jun 2023

Sridhar Bhamidi 28 Jun 2023

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Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier predictions to be played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday afternoon, IST
Zimbabwe have won their last 4 ODIs
Zimbabwe's average opening partnership has been 61 in this tournament while that of Oman is 11
Sean Williams has 3 scores of 50 or above in his last 4 ODIs
Aqib Ilyas has 2 scores of 50 or above in his last 4 ODIs
Can Zimbabwe continue their momentum in the World Cup Qualifier?

Zimbabwe look comfortable with their favourites tag (Getty Images)

Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier

The top-six sides of the ICC World Cup Qualifier will start their battle for two spots in the ODI World Cup. Kicking off the section will be Zimbabwe and Oman at the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday.

Zimbabwe have been in cracking form this tournament and have four points to start their Super-Six journey. They wouldn’t want to drop points here with some tricky fixtures next. Oman will be happy to play the underdog tag and try to surprise. I am putting my money on Zimbabwe starting positively and scoring the highest partnership of the match. On the individual market front, back Sean Williams and Aqib Ilyas to do the job for Zimbabwe and Oman respectively.

Zimbabwe’s average opening partnership across their last 4 matches is 61 (ODIs)
Oman’s average opening partnership across their last 4 matches is 10.50 (ODIs)
Sean Williams has 3 scores of 50 or above in his last 4 matches (ODIs)
Aqib Ilyas has 2 scores of 50 or above for Oman in his last 4 matches (ODIs)
Richard Ngarava has taken at least 2 wickets in his last 4 matches for Zimbabwe (ODIs)

Head to Head

These two sides have never featured in an official ODI match but played in the practice match before the tournament. That game saw Zimbabwe edge by 27 runs in a high-scoring encounter.

Zimbabwe Form

Zimbabwe have won all four matches in this qualifying tournament. That gives them four points in the Super Six to start with, against fellow qualifiers from the group – the Netherlands and West Indies.

The hosts have enjoyed dominance with both bat and ball in the series. Sean Williams with 390 runs has been the mainstay of their batting while Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza have turned up with 218 runs each.

With the ball, Richard Ngarava has been brilliant with ten wickets while Raza picked up eight. It would be interesting to see how the hosts will adapt to the changed conditions from Harare to Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe Team News

Zimbabwe could go back to the team that served them in the first three ODIs, having made a few changes for the last game against USA.

Oman Form

Oman have two wins and two losses in the tournament, with their defeats coming against Scotland and Sri Lanka. That means they start the Super Sixes with zero points and have very little chance of progression.

The Associate nation has been helped by Aqib Ilyas’ batting which fetched him 142 runs. Ayaan Khan is another who had a decent tournament so far, with 133 runs.

With the ball, Bilal Khan has been impressive with nine wickets but otherwise Oman haven’t sparkled. They would like to keep things tight and spring a surprise, with no added pressure of expectations.

Oman Team News

Oman could go with the same team that has served it in all four games in this tournament.

Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier FAQs

Where can I watch the Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier live stream?

Our live streaming calendar shows you where to watch the Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier live stream.

What time does Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier start?

This Zimbabwe vs Oman ICC World Cup Qualifier will be played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday starting at 12:30pm IST.

Verdict

Zimbabwe are unlikely to put their foot off the pedal, as two more points will take them closer to qualification. They are overwhelming favourites against Oman, which rules out putting money on a home win. I am dipping into the opening partnership market with Zimbabwe primed to score more than Oman. Keep an eye on the individual market too with Sean Williams and Aqib Ilyas well-placed to lead their sides with the bat.