Raza, Taylor centuries flay Nepal

Zimbabwe vice captain Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor both scored centuries as the Chevrons beat Nepal by 116 runs in an ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier at Bulawayo Athletic Club.

Batting first in overcast conditions, Cephas Zhuwao and Solomon Mire trampled all over the Nepal attack rushing to 77 before the former lost his wicket for a 23-ball 41.

Mire then brought up his half century off 37 balls before Basant Regmi accounted first for Hamilton Masakadza on 16 and Mire for 52 off 41 balls.

Craig Ervine and Taylor built the innings with a 77 run partnership that pushed Zimbabwe north of 200. Lalit Rajbanshi got Ervine to edge one for 34.

Then came Raza. He smashed the bowlers all over, seven fours and nine sixes bringing up his century off just 59 balls. Taylor got to his century with the next ball.

Both batsmen were delivered in the final over but with 103 over the last 10 overs a score of 380/6 off 50 overs was a big ask.

Nepal lost Dilip Nath in fourth over thanks to Tendai Chatara.

There was fight in the Asian side. Captain Paras Khadka (40), half centuries from S Vesawkae and A Sheikh as well R Kumar with a 30 put in performances that will give them confidence but it was always too much as they could only amass 264 from their allotted 50 overs.

Raza was named man of the match for his 123 and 3-48. Brian Vitori finished with 2-46.

In other matches, a captain’s knock by Andy Balbirnie of 68 and contributions from their top five took Ireland to a solid 268/7 in their 50 overs in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 against the Netherlands.

Rohan Mustafa’s diligent 95 and an Ashfaq Ahmed fifty helped United Arab Emirates post 221 against Papua New Guinea in the first match of their Group A clash of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 at Harare Sports Club.