According to the pitch report, seamers could get true bounce and carry if they hit lengths around 7-8 metres, and even six metres. Spinners, meanwhile, could find grip and turn, continuing a pattern from the series in which batters have found it difficult to take on the slow bowlers.
There could also be a need for seamers to adjust their lengths and make better use of the areas carrying more live grass.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza felt the surface looked drier and believed that could benefit his side. He said Zimbabwe would not have minded batting first after losing the toss, but warned that assessing a par score before the innings begins can be misleading.
“I always say that it’s very hard to say that when you haven’t gone out to bat. It may look one way and it may play the other,” Raza said.
“When the wickets are quite dry, with the heat as well, it could dry really quickly and get slower. If you aim too high, you could be too short.”
Raza said the first 7-8 overs should offer a better indication of the par score.
“Every game we go out to play, it’s a must-win, that’s a mindset to have,” he said.
Namibia won the toss and opted to field. Zimbabwe made one change, bringing Wellington Masakadza in for Cremer.
