The ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifiers began with some high-scoring fixtures as Zimbabwe and West Indies eased to victory against Nepal and USA respectively in Harare on Sunday, June 19.
Zimbabwe, led by skipper Craig Ervine, cruised to an eight-wicket win over Nepal. At the Takashinga Sports Club, the West Indies sealed a comfortable 39-run victory against the United States of America.
The Craig Ervine-Sean Williams show
Nepal set Zimbabwe a target of 290 for the win after Nepal's top-order of Kushal Bhurtel (99) and Aasif Sheikh (66) led the charge. For Zimbabwe, Ervine combined with Sean Williams for an unbeaten partnership of 164* runs in just 125 balls and Williams hit the fastest ODI century by a Zimbabwean batter, in just 70 balls. Ervine carried the bat for his team with a brilliant 121 in 128 balls, as the hosts chased down the total in just 44.1 overs.
Bhurtel and Sheikh built a solid partnership of 100 runs in 23 overs but both openers were dismissed by Wellington Masakadza. Then, Zimbabwe's Richard Ngarava took control of the proceeding and took four wickets for 43 runs to put a brake on Nepal's scoring. Eventually, Nepal scored 290 and lost eight wickets.
Nepal struck early against Zimbabwe, getting the wicket of Joylord Gumbie for 25, and then Wessly Madhevere's for 32. But they were under no kind of pressure as Sean Williams turned the game on its head.
Middle order rescues West Indies
For the West Indies, it was a 39-run win over the United States courtesy of contributions from Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Johnson Charles, and Roston Chase, whose brilliant strokeplay took them to a total of 297. For the USA, Gajanand Singh hit a century but it was not enough to get them to the required target.
USA actually started on the front foot as Saurabh Netravalkar dismissed Brandon King for a duck in the second over. Kyle Phillip then clean-bowled Kyle Mayers as the Windies were stranded on 14 for two.
But then Shai Hope and Johnson Charles took matters into their hands and their partnership of 115 runs. Nosthush Kenjige and Steven Taylor then struck after both batters hit their half-centuries, after which Roston Chase and Nicholas Pooran kept the pressure on USA. Holder played a brilliant knock of 56 from 40 balls to take their total to 297.
Jason Holder broke the deadlock after a good start from Taylor and Sushant Modani. After Holder got Modani, Mayers struck to send Taylor and Patel. Gajanand's fighting century was not enough as USA only managed to score 258 runs in their 50 overs.
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