Hosts Zimbabwe will be looking to avoid an embarrassing home series whitewash against visiting Afghanistan in the third and final T20i at the Harare Sports Club this afternoon.
It is the setting for what is now a final roll of the dice for the home sideas they face the white-hot threat of a series whitewash against an in-form Afghanistan.
Having lost the first two T20 Internationals by 53 runs and seven wickets respectively, the Chevrons will be playing for pride and a crucial confidence boost ahead of a demanding tri-series in Pakistan.
Afghanistan, smarting from a loss in the preceding one-off Test, have proven their T20I pedigree with two commanding wins.
Opener Ibrahim Zadran has been the anchor with back-to-back half-centuries, while captain Rashid Khan, fresh off a Player-of-the-Match-winning spell of 3/9 in the second T20I, has led his bowling unit with a mixture of tactical genius and world-class skill
Zimbabwe coach Justin Summons is clear on the team’s objective: secure a victory for morale and preparation.
"Look, there's not much time,” Sammons said.
“There's tomorrow, so obviously some of the guys that want to have a hit will come in.
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“But I think it's number one, making sure our bowlers are fresh and ready to go and bring the energy that we're looking for in them, same with us in the field. I think we've been good," Summons said.
The primary concern, however, remains the batting unit’s inability to cope with the Afghan spin quartet.
"And from a batting point of view, like I said, it's about that mindset,” he said.
“It’s about backing our abilities, obviously understanding what sort of game plans will work.
“Obviously having faced their bowlers in the previous two games and being brave enough to sort of employ that.”
Captain Sikandar Raza's men need more top-order contributions to build a competitive total or handle a chase.
Summons also provided clarity on team selection, specifically addressing the inclusion of spinner Graeme Cremer, by backing the impressive form of Wellington Masakadza.
"The reality is, Wellington has been brilliant for us when he's played... for Cremer to now jump ahead of him, it's highly unlikely that that will happen,” he said.
“But certainly there will be opportunity for him in the near future," he noted, emphasising the value of a combination-dependent selection strategy tailored to conditions and opposition.
For Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan, complacency is not an option despite the unassailable 2-0 lead.
His focus is on continuous improvement, with the T20 World Cup on the horizon.
"Well, as I mentioned, we have only a few games before the World Cup. We don't want to be so chilled and relaxed when we win the series,” Khan said.
“I feel like the series makes no difference for us. The game makes a huge difference.”
The star leg-spinner insists the team will go with the "same mindset, same energy," determined to rectify any mistakes from the previous two encounters across batting, bowling, and fielding.
For Khan, every international game is a moment of national honour.
"When we started playing cricket, that was a dream for us to represent the country,” he said.
“And we're playing cricket, we're representing the country. So it's a huge honour.
“And whenever you're going inside, you don't need to forget that. I'm representing the whole nation."
Zimbabwe will be desperate to carry the momentum of their Test win into the T20 format, needing a collective performance to deny the tourists a clean sweep.
“The final T20I, a dead rubber in series terms but vital for confidence and preparations, promises to be a battle of wills at Harare Sports Club.
