Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza delivered a complete performance to make a big run chase look like a walk in the park against Netherlands in ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2023. Raza smashed the fastest ODI century for Zimbabwe from just 54 balls to take his team home in 41st over in the run chase of 316 at Harare Sports Club. Before smashing an unbeaten, Raza was potent with the ball as well taking four wickets while conceding 55 runs.
Dropped catches
Chasing 316, Zimbabwe got an early reprieve as opener Joylord Gumbie's catch was dropped in the second over. In the 10th over, Ervine's catch was dropped as well. Vikramjit Singh broke the opening partnership in the 14th over. Ervine scored 50 runs from 48 balls including nine fours in 80-run opening partnership. In the 16th catch, Gumbie's catch was dropped again. Despite two dropped catches, he could not make it count and got bowled by Shariz Ahmad. He scored 40 runs from 55 balls including five fours. Wesley Madhevere failed to make an impact and got out after scoring 10 runs.
Raza goes berserk
From 162/3 in the 25th over, Sean Williams and Raza took on Dutch bowlers. Williams was already batting on 53 from 31 balls when Raza walked in. Raza did not hesitate from taking the aerial route. Williams departed after the drinks break. Bas de Leede broke the fourth-wicket partnership. He scored 91 runs from 58 balls including 10 fours and two sixes. Raza reached his half-century from 36 balls with a boundary. He did not let Netherlands make a comeback. In the 39th over, he smashed Shariz for three consecutive sixes. In the 41st over, Raza finished the game with a maximum and got to his century as well.
Zimbabwe chased down 316 with six wickets in hand and 55 balls to spare. His quickfire knock was studded with six fours and eight sixes. This was Raza's third ODI century in a successful run chase. It is also the second-fastest ODI century against Netherlands. He has become the first Zimbabwe cricketer to hit a century and take four wickets in an ODI.
This was Zimbabwe's second win on the trot as they are placed at the top of Group A. Raza was ecstatic after Zimbabwe’s electrifying run chase as he said, “We played 6 games against Pakistan 'A' recently, and we have scored 350+ thrice. The platform was already set when I walked in and I just cashed in. It wasn't on my mind (about the century), the last few innings, I have made 30s and 40s five times, as long as the team wins, we don't care about individual performances.”
3 fifties lead Netherlands to big score
Earlier, Ervine won the toss and opted to field first. Vikramjit and Max ODowd shared a 120-run opening stand. It was Raza who broke the partnership in the 21st over. ODowd scored 59 runs from 67 balls including 10 fours. In his next over, Raza got the wicket of Wesley Barresi as well. Vikramjit held on to one end whereas Scott Edwards took on the Zimbabwe bowlers. Once again, the partnership was broken by Raza. Vikramjit was denied a century. The opener scored 88 runs from 11 deliveries including nine fours.
Raza got another wicket in the form of De Leede. Pacer Richard Ngarava got Tje Nidamanuru for a single-digit score. Edwards used the slog overs well but got out in the 48th over. He scored 83 runs from 72 balls including eight fours before getting bowled by Ngarava. Saqib Zulfiqar's unbeaten 34 helped Netherlands post 315/6 on the board.
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