The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 witnessed Zimbabwe stun West Indies and the Netherlands thrash Nepal by seven wickets in a double header on Saturday (June 24).
The first match saw West Indies winning the toss and choosing to bowl first against Zimbabwe. However, the decision of the Caribbean team didn’t go as per the plan, with Zimbabwe starting their innings on a positive note and Sikandar Raza leading the charge. Raza played a brilliant innings, scoring 68 runs off just 58 deliveries. He showcased his attacking skills and played some exquisite shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. Ryan Burl also contributed significantly, reaching his half-century in 57 balls. The partnership between Raza and Burl provided a solid foundation for Zimbabwe.
The West Indies bowlers made a strong comeback in the later half of the game and succeeded in restricting Zimbabwe’s run flow. Keemo Paul was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets for 61 runs. Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph also made valuable contributions, taking two wickets each. The efforts eventually helped limit Zimbabwe to a total of 268 runs in 49.5 overs.
Chasing 269 for victory, the West Indies batters started cautiously. Kyle Mayers showed his class with a well-crafted half-century, scoring 56 runs off 72 balls. Roston Chase also played a responsible innings and contributed 44 runs from 53 deliveries. However, the Zimbabwean bowlers maintained the pressure and took crucial wickets at regular intervals.
Tendai Chatara proved to be the standout bowler for Zimbabwe, picking up three wickets for 52 runs. His accurate line and length troubled the West Indies batters throughout their innings. Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling and tight fielding ultimately proved decisive in their victory.
As the overs dwindled, the West Indies found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the required run rate. They lost wickets at crucial junctures, unable to build substantial partnerships. In the end, they were ultimately bowled out for 233 runs in 44.4 overs, falling short by 35 runs.
On the other hand, the second match saw the Netherlands win the toss and elect to bowl first. Nepal started their innings cautiously but lost wickets at regular intervals. They managed to score just 167 runs before being bowled out in 44.3 overs. Rohit Paudel was the top scorer for Nepal, contributing 33 runs off 55 deliveries. The Netherlands bowlers put up an impressive display, with Logan van Beek leading the way with figures of 4/24. Bas de Leede and Vikramjit Singh also chipped in with two wickets each, conceding 31 and 20 runs, respectively.
In reply, the Netherlands approached the task confidently. Max ODowd played a sensational innings and smashed 90 runs off just 75 balls. His aggressive batting set the tone for the Dutch side. Leede provided valuable support with 41 runs off 39 deliveries. Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane managed to pick up two wickets but was expensive, conceding 60 runs.
In the end, the Netherlands comfortably reached the target with seven wickets in hand and 22.5 overs to spare. Their clinical performance with both bat and ball ensured a convincing victory and valuable points in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023.
