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EMPHATIC! Zimbabwe make statement win against minnows USA

Sean Williams Zimbabwe Crcket 2023
Sean Williams of Zimbabwe celebrates after scoring a century during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Zimbabwe 2023 match between Zimbabwe and USA at Harare Sports Club on June 26, 2023 in Harare, Zimbabwe. PIC ICC/Getty Images

Zimbabwe beat USA at Harare Sports Club, Harare by 304 runs
Zimbabwe 408/6 in 50 overs (Sean Williams 174, Joylord Gambie 78; Abhishek Paradkar 3/78; Jessy Singh 2/97)
USA 104 all out in 25.1 overs (Abhishek Paradkar 24, Jessy Singh 21; Sikandar Raza (2/15, Richard Ngarava 2/25)

When Zimbabwe men’s cricket coach Dave Houghton took to the helm, he said that his side to create a distance between his side and the Associates.

A 304-run win did a lot to advance that discussion.

Captain-for-the-day Sean William posted the third-highest score for Zimbabwe in One Day Internationals (ODI) with 174.

His effort meant Zimbabwe posted their highest ODI score of 408 for the loss of eight wickets.

And this was with four changes!

Put in to bat, Zimbabwe were circumspect. Their first 10 overs offered 36 runs. They made 56.

Williams immediately set about dismantling the USA attack, hitting Nisarg Patel for three consecutive boundaries and brought up his 33-ball half-century with a six off Singh.

His century followed off just 70 deliveries but Gumbie’s luck ran out on 78 when was stumped off the bowling of Nosthush Kenjige.

Sikandar Raza was in an equally destructive mood, hitting 48 off 27 before Ryan Burl made a quickfire 47 from 16 deliveries.

Williams finally fell for 174 but, with 408 on the board, the stand-in captain had more than fulfilled his duties with the bat, while Zimbabwe’s bowlers then backed him up with a trio of early wickets putting them in a commanding position.

Richard Ngarava dismissed openers Steven Taylor (0) and Sushant Modani (6), starting a steady stream of wickets at regular intervals, with captain Patel (9), Aaron Jones (8) and Garjanand Singh (13) all departing as quickly as they had arrived.

Van Beek fires Netherlands past West Indies after spectacular super over 

West Indies tied with Netherlands at Takashinga Cricket Club, Harare
West Indies 374/6 in 50 overs (Nicholas Pooran 104 not out, Brandon King 76; Saqid Zulfiqar 2/43, Bas de Leede 2/72)
Netherlands 374/9 in 50 overs (Teja Nidamanuru 111, Scott Edwards 67; Roston Chase 3/77, Akeal Hosein 2/73)
Netherlands 30/0 in Super Over (Logan van Beek 30)
West Indies 8/2 in Super Over (Logan van Beek 2/8)

A Harare thriller saw both sides finish on 374 from their 50 overs, at which point van Beek took centre stage.

Having fallen falling to the final ball of the regular innings for a 14-ball 28 with just a single required, the all-rounder struck three sixes and three fours from the super over bowled by Jason Holder.

Holder had earlier held a brilliant catch to dismiss van Beek and force the unlikely tie but the Dutchman then seized control, removing Johnson Charles and Romario Shepherd with consecutive balls following his fireworks with the bat to decide the outcome.

The Windies started strongly with the bat after being put in as openers Johnson Charles and Brandon King (76) added 101 before the former was trapped lbw for 54.

Saqib Zulfiqar dismissed Sharmah Brooks (25) and King (76) in consecutive overs before another century stand, this time between Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran, ended when Hope was caught on the rope looking to bring up a half-century with a maximum.

Pooran brought up his second consecutive century before kicking on with Keemo Paul as the Windies hammered 61 off the last five overs.

Netherlands openers Vikramjit Singh (37) and Max O’Dowd (36) added 71 inside 10 overs in reply but Roston Chase dismissed both as West Indies fought back.

Wesley Barresi (27) and Bas de Leede (33) kept Netherlands on track and after both were removed by Akeal Hosein, Teja Nidamanuru and captain Scott Edwards put on 143 from just 15 overs to set up a frantic finish.

Edwards (67) was first to go and the game was back in the balance when centurion Nidamanuru (111) picked out Chase at third man.

Aryan Dutt (16) and van Beek took the equation to five from as many balls but Joseph took two wickets at the death to force a super over. 

Van Beek made no mistake at the second time of asking to lead his side to a momentous victory following their highest-ever ODI score.

Things went from bad to worse when Shayan Jahangir was run out without facing, just two balls after Jones had also been stranded.

Abhishek Paradkar (24) and Singh (21) offered some resistance but the Zimbabwe attack were on a mission to wrap up the contest as soon as possible and did so in the 26th over when Usman Rafiq was run out.

Tuesday 27 June – Fixtures

Group B

  • Scotland v Sri Lanka at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
  • Ireland v UAE at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bula

All matches are available on SuperSport.

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