Zimbabwe’s World Cup 2023 Qualifiers can be summed up in a short sentence – one minute up, next minute down. Zimbabwe entered the Super Sixes stage of WC Qualifiers high-on confidence with an authoritative win over West Indies playing a major role in their elimination. But after a comprehensive loss to Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe lost by 31 runs against Scotland.
Scottish batters fail to lay platform
At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine won the toss and opted to field first. Scotland got off to a slow start with their openers approaching the new-ball bowlers with caution. In the ninth over, Christopher McBride's catch was dropped. But McBride could not make it big and got out for 28 in the 17th over. In-form Brendon McMullen dominated the proceedings with few boundaries. Then Sean Williams got Matthew Cross bowled in the 26th over. He scored 38 runs from 75 balls. In his next over, Williams got the wicket of McMullen as well. He contributed with a run-a-ball 34.
Leask, Watt finish well
Williams went on a wicket-taking spree. He got Scotland skipper Richie Berrington out for a single-digit score. Ahead of slog overs, Tomas Mackintosh got run out. Ngarava came back into the attack and got George Munsey bowled. Another wicket came off Williams' over but via run out. Michael Leask provided the much-needed acceleration as he found boundaries more often. In the penultimate over, Leask missed his half-century Tendai Chatara got the wicket. Leask scored 48 runs from 34 balls including three fours and two sixes. Mark Watt's 15-ball 21 helped Scotland post 234/8.
Sole’s blinding spell
Scotland's express pacer struck with the first ball as Joylord Gumbie edged one to wicket keeper. Sole bowled in high 140s and early 150s. His pace was too much for Ervine who got bowled in the next over. Sole's new-ball magic continued. Williams could not pick the 149kmph delivery aimed at stumps. The wicket led to a pin-drop silence in the stadium barring the Scottish players’ celebration. McMullen joined the party as well and trapped Innocent Kaia in front of the wickets. Zimbabwe were reduced to 37/4.
Burl leads the way
Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl tried to do some damage control. Raza went after three free hit delivery from Safyaan Sharif to release some pressure. Then Chris Greaves was introduced into the attack and he delivered with the wicket of Raza. He could score 34 runs from 40 deliveries. With 93/5 after 18 overs, the target of 234 looked like a mountain to climb. Burl found the perfect partner in Wessly Madhevere. Burl got to his half-century from 53 balls in the 26th over.
Burl runs out of partners
The partnership was going well and infused life into a crowd that went silent not long agao. They were disappointed again as Watt got the wicket of Madhevere with a slower ball. He scored 40 runs from 39 balls in the 73-run partnership. Maskadza could not do much and became McMullen's second victim of the day. Then Leask got the wicket of Ngarava for a single-digit score. The required run rate was not a problem but the fall of wicket was. Burl went for an all out attack against Leask hitting him for a four and a six. But his slog sweep of Leask found McMullen. He scored 83 runs from 84 balls including eight fours and one six. It was a matter of formalities. Sharif got the wicket of Chatara as Zimbabwe got all out for 203 with 53 balls remaining in the innings.
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