ZWE vs NAM 5th T20I match prediction 24 May 2022

ZIM vs NAM 5th T20I Predictions & Betting Tips

Namibia displayed valour in a must-win game on Sunday and levelled the 5-match T20I series 2-2. With the series on a cliffhanger, the two teams will lock horns in the series-decider on Tuesday, May 24. The nail-biting encounter will be held once against at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from 4:30 PM IST.

The series which started on May 17 has witnessed a seesaw battle so far. After Zimbabwe won the series opener, visitors Namibia bounced back with a 8-wicket win in the second match. Zimbabwe took a 2-1 lead in the third game and was looking set to clinch the series with a win in the fourth match but Namibia once again fought back and took the series to the final match with a 6-wicket win. Notably, It's a start of new rivalry in international cricket as the two teams had never met each other in the format earlier. Zimbabwe are placed 12th, while Namibia 16th in the latest ICC T20I rankings for teams. More than one player from both the teams are looking in fine touch and that would make the upcoming match even more exciting. Ahead of the clash, let's have a look at the best team and player bets from the ZIM vs NAM 5th T20I head-to-head contest.

ZIM vs NAM 5th T20I Team Bet:

Mentioned below is the top team bet from the ZIM vs NAM 5th T20 head-to-head contest.

Zimbabwe to win

Zimbabwe might have lost the fourth T20I and missed a golden opportunity of clinching the home series against a lower ranked Namibia, but they are still the fifth and series-deciding match as the favourites. The reasons behind it are more than one. Zimbabwe is the only side in the bilateral series to have successfully defended their target. Teams chasing have won on three out of four occasions. Hosts' bowling unit looks more compact in the presence of experienced pacer Tendai Chatara and off-spinner Sikandar Raza. Zimbabwe opener Wesley Madhevere has looked brutal in his approach and is tournament's leading run-getter. He just needs captain Craig Ervine, who scored a fifty in the first match, and the very talented Raza to step up and support him in the final match. Needless to say, the home conditions will always support Zimbabwe a little more than their rivals. Zimbabwe, despite staying out of T20I action for almost eight month, have given a tough fight to an upbeat Namibia squad, who surprised one and all by entering the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup 2021 in their very first attempt. Zimbabwe are also chasing history and the fact they have never won a T20I series at home, will inspire them to give it their all in the high-octane clash. Both the teams have now won three out of their last five games. There are a few challenges in front of Zimbabwe but the opportunities should inspire them. Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus (123 runs in 4 matches) and Craig Williams (91 runs in 4 matches) are the two batsmen Zimbabwe should look to get early. Once that happens, Zimbabwe would win half the battle. The final encounter will also be an opportunity for Zimbabwe to better their record in the shortest format at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe have won three out of eight T20I matches at the venue. Interestingly, neither Zimbabwe nor Namibia have won two consecutive matches in the series. Namibia won the last game and going by that Zimbabwe look set to win the match and the series on Tuesday. If you feel the same, head over to Pari Match and place your bet on Zimbabwe from the ZIM vs NAM head-to-head encounter.

ZIM vs NAM Player Bets:

Gerhard Erasmus and Sikandar Raza are my top two player betting tips for the ZIM vs NAM 4th T20I match. Have a look at it for reaping the best returns.

Wesley Madhevere to score more than 19.5 runs

Ahead of the fourth T20I, we predicted that Zimbabwe opener Zimbabwe opener Wesley Madhevere will come all guns blazing once again and guess what? He did not disappoint us! Madhevere smashed 50 off just 32 balls to record his second consecutive fifty in the 5-match series. Looks like a third fifty is on the card. There is not a shadow of doubt that Wesley Madhevere has got a fine liking for Namibia bowlers and Bulwayo's Queens Sports Club as he has shone in his first four international outings at the venue. He fired 23 off just 12 balls to set the tone for Zimbabwe in the first T20I which they won by seven runs after posting 153/4. Madhevere walked back to the pavilion for seven off 4 after an unfortunate run-out dismissal in the second T20I. In the third T20I, the 21-year-old did not miss the opportunity and handed Zimbabwe a 2-1 lead with his stunning 73 not out off 61 balls. Currently, Madhevere is the leading run-scorer in the series with 153 runs at an average of 51 and strike rate of 140.36. Overall, the right-hander carries a decent T20I average of 26.13 from his 25 T20Is in which he has scored 601 runs at a strike rate of 123.91. In 2021, he had smashed 59 off 47 against Pakistan, 73 (57 balls) and 54 (36 balls) versus Bangladesh. Having seen enough of Namibia bowlers till now, the Harare-born should find it very easy to score over 19.5 runs in the fifth and final ZIM vs BAN T20I on Tuesday. Our affiliate partner Pari Match is offering the odds of 1.87 for the same. Waste no time and scoop over to Pari match and place your bet on Wesley Madhevere from the ZIM vs NAM head-to-head encounter for an almost assured return.

Gerhard Erasmus to score impeccably

Ahead of the fourth T20I, we had also predicted that Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus will deliver for his team in a must-win game. Erasmus did stand up to his reputation of being a big match player and slammed 59 not out runs off just 43 balls as he helped Namibia gun down a 158-run target and level the 5-match series 2-2. Erasmus, who had scored 64 runs at an average of 21.33 ahead of the fourth T20I, is now the second-highest run-scorer in the series with 123 runs at an average of 41.00. Gerhard Erasmus was looking in fine touch since the start of the series but lacked a bit of luck. The Namibia captain was out cheaply for three runs in the series opener before he bounced back with a match-defining 26-ball 36. In the third T20I, he had scored 25 runs and was looking all set to anchor his team's innings before getting run-out by a Sikandar Raza throw. The 27-year-old is playing against Zimbabwe and in Zimbabwe for the first time and it wouldn't be wrong to see that the right-hander has adjusted well and would be raring to deliver the final punch en route to another historic triumph for Namibia. Gerhard Erasmus had looked good during his last three T20I outings before the Zimbabwe series, scoring 4, 100* and 27*. The Windhoek-born was the team's main man in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 as well. The all-rounder scored 271 runs including a hundred and a fifty in the five matches there. Gerhard Erasmus led his team to a historic 8-wicket win against Ireland which saw Namibia qualify for the Super 12 round in their very first attempt. Erasmus had contributed with 53 unbeaten runs in the match. He had also played a pivotal role in Namibia's first win during the group stage. Chasing 165 against the Netherlands, Namibia lost three early wickets. However, their captain scored 32 off just 22 balls and stitched a 93-run partnership for the fourth wicket to help Namibia win with six wickets and an over to spare. The middle-order batsman, who has scored 927 runs at an average of 35.65 in 37 T20Is, will most certainly look to score impeccably in the series-decider on Tuesday. Keep an eye out for Gerhard Erasmus as our affiliate partner Pari Match should offer the best of odds for Gerhard Erasmus from the ZIM vs NAM 5th T20I head-to-head encounter.

My Pick:

Zimbabwe to win - @ 1.66 (Pari Match)

Wesley Madhevere to score more than 19.5 runs - @ 1.87 (Pari Match)

Gerhard Erasmus to score impeccably