West Indies and Zimbabwe seal contrasting wins on opening day of World Cup qualifiers
- 18 Jun 2023
West Indies and Zimbabwe notched up victories in their respective opening cricket World Cup Group A qualifiers over the United States and Nepal on Sunday.
Two-time world champions West Indies recovered from the early loss of openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers as four players hit half-centuries as they made 297 all out off 49.3 overs.
Johnson Charles top scored with 66, while Jason Holder (56), Roston Chase (55) and skipper Shai Hope (54) all went past 50, Nicholas Pooran also chipping in with 43 runs.
Gajanand Singh hit an unbeaten 101 off 109 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, for the US team, but the chase proved too much and the West Indies ran out winners by 39 runs.
USA got off to a sedate start in response to the West Indies total. Sushant Modani and Steven Taylor added 35 runs for the first wicket, before the former was taken at third man off a Jason Holder delivery in the eighth over. In the very next over, Kyle Mayers accounted for Taylor (18).
The USA's chances were badly hit when Monank Patel and Saiteja Mukkamalla fell in back-to-back overs, leaving the North American side at 55/4 in 13.4 overs. Walking in next, USA no. 6 Gajanand Singh took the attack to West Indies bowlers before looking to settle in for the chase.
Together with Aaron Jones, he added 42 runs for the fifth wicket. The stand was broken when Jones was run out in the 21st over. At the halfway stage, USA were 106/5.
USA's sixth wicket stand withstood the West Indies challenge till the 34th over. Gajanand and Shayan Jahangir added 58 runs off 83 balls, before the latter fell to Alzarri Joseph.
After Shayan's dismissal, the West Indies win seemed to be a formality as the run rate had crept over 10. However, they had to contend with a spirited stand between Gajanand and Nosthush Kenjige. The duo added 76 runs for the eighth wicket and remained unbeaten till the end of the game. Gajanand (101*) also scored his maiden ODI hundred in the final over of the game.
"We have to be disciplined and we have to stay calm," Holder said, praising Singh for his effort with the bat. "He played a really good knock to get his team close enough to our total."
Earlier in the day, unbeaten centuries by skipper Craig Ervine and Sean Williams in a 164-run partnership guided Zimbabwe to an eight-wicket win over Nepal.
Chasing an imposing total of 290, Ervine hit a 128-ball 121 featuring 15 fours and a six, while Williams struck 102 off 70 balls as Zimbabwe reached 291 for the loss of two wickets with 35 balls remaining.
Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh hit 99 and 66 respectively to help Nepal to 290 for eight wickets off their 50 overs at the Harare Sports Club.
Wellington Masakadza eventually claimed both Bhurtel and Sheikh's wickets and Richard Ngarava took 4-43 off his nine overs.
In front of a large crowd, Zimbabwe lost Joylord Gumbie (25) and Wessly Madhevere (32) before Ervine and Williams took control of Nepal's bowling attack.
"We didn't start really well, dropped catches cost us but credit to the guys for pulling it back. We thought that 280/290 would be chaseable because the wicket looked very nice," said Ervine.
"I think it's well played today, rest day tomorrow and a quick turnaround when we play the Netherlands next on Tuesday." The action continues Monday, with Sri Lanka facing the UAE and Ireland taking on Oman in Group B matches at Bulawayo.
Only two of the 10 teams taking part in the three-week qualifier will make the World Cup to be played in India in October and November.
Agencies
