Zimbabwe will take on South Africa in the first match of the tri-series. This article provides details about Zimbabwe’s Playing 11 vs South Africa for the first game of the tri-series.
Zimbabwe Playing 11 vs South Africa- Match 1, Zimbabwe T20I Tri Series 2025:
Openers: Dion Myers, Brian Bennett
The hosts will open the innings in the opening match of the tri-series against South Africa with Dion Myers and Brian Bennett.
Bannet is making a comeback after missing the second Test due to a concussion against the same opposition and will look to make the most of the opportunity.
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Bennett will be partnered by Dion Myers, who has been given chances in all three formats of the game but hasn’t been able to convert those into significant scores.
Like Bennett, Myers will also look to get things right in the first game itself to build confidence for the entire series and for the matches to come in the future.
If we talk about the performance of the opening partnership, it has been a cause of concern for the home side as none of the opening combinations has worked for them for quite a while.
Both Bennett and Myers will look to get the team off to a quick start against a relatively inexperienced South African bowling attack.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Clive Madande (wk), Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa
The opening pair will be followed by a young middle order, which includes the likes of wicketkeeper batter Clive Madande and Wessly Madhevere.
That’s the reason why the role of all-rounders Ryan Burl and captain Sikandar Raza becomes important for the rainbow nation to post a competitive total while batting first in the opening match.
Zimbabwe is expected to go into the match with a lot of all-round options in the playing XI, with Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza being one of the three all-rounders that will be picked for the game.
Bowlers: Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
The rainbow nation is expected to go with four genuine bowlers in the form of Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava.
The above-mentioned information paints the picture that Zimbabwe will have two fast bowlers and three spinners in the lineup for the first match.
The bowlers will be supported by all-rounders who will provide a good balance to the team.
Zimbabwe would be happy to see the return of fast bowler Richard Ngarawa, who will take the new ball in the upcoming match
Ngarava will get the company of Blessing Muzarabani from the other end, who was also a part of the team in the Test series.
As far as the team’s spin bowling department goes, it would be handled by Wellington Masakadza and Vincent Masekesa.
All things said, it will be the pitch that will dictate which way the game pans out on the opening day of the series.