Match 5, Harare, June 20, 2023, 12:30 PM
Netherlands
315/6(50.0ov)
Zimbabwe
319/4(40.5ov)
Zimbabwe beat Netherlands by 6 wickets
Right then, that is it from this cracker of a game. Zimbabwe has won it comprehensively. The action continues as we have two games lined up on Wednesday, the 21st of June. It will be Ireland versus Scotland and Oman versus the United Arab Emirates. Both the games will begin at 12.30pm IST (7am GMT) Do join us for the early build-up as well. Until then, goodbye and cheers!
Craig Ervine the skipper of Zimbabwe says the run-chase was brilliant, especially after the way we bowled today again and credit to Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams as they batted amazingly. He adds that they started well with the bat and stuck to the plan of not losing wickets early on. He also adds that they wanted to restrict the opponent to 290 but the batters made up for extra runs. He closes by saying that having too many options in the bowling department at times gets a bit hard to contain and leads to a bad decision here and there and it gets difficult for any bowler to get a full quota of 10 overs apart from Blessing Muzarabani.
Scott Edwards the skipper of Netherlands says that they were in the game for most of the game but on a good wicket if the team drops catches then it becomes difficult to win. He adds that the conditions are different from the last time they were here but a total of 315 was always defendable and there is no excuse for this performance. He also adds that Sikandar Raza is a brilliant batter and the top order for them played well and our bowling and fielding let us down. He closes by saying that they have to forget this and keep moving.
Man of the Match is Sikandar Raza for his brilliant spell of 4 for 55 and 102 not out with the bat of just 54 deliveries. He says as much as happy the team is right now they all know that the job is still not done. He adds that they back themselves chasing any total as they have done so recently against Pakistan A because the surface in Zimbabwe is brilliant for batting and the mantra is simple for him that is play the ball on its merit and forget about the delivery that has been bowled. He closes by saying that the reason for the success of the team is that everyone is happy with the victory of the team and not any sort of individual brilliance as the main motto of the side is to play in India later this year.
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Earlier in the match, it was Vikramjit Singh and Scott Edwards who put up a good show with the bat and scored 88 and 83 respectively. They made their side reach a total of 315 runs. Sikandar Raza was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe as he picked up four wickets. Richard Ngarava picked two wickets for Zimbabwe.
The Netherlands bowlers just had a day to forget. They will be upset with their performance as they had a good total on the board and just couldn't defend it. Shariz Ahmad picked up two wickets but was a bit expensive. Vikramjit Singh and Bas de Leede chipped in with one and the rest of the bowlers were wicketless.
Chasing a target of 316 runs, it was always tricky and is all about getting a solid start and that is just what their opening pair provided. After their openers were back into the hut, it was Sean Williams who ran a havoc over the Dutch bowlers but was dismissed on 91. Later Sikandar Raza scored a quickfire ton and led their side comprehensively over the line.
SIKANDAR RAZA YOU BEAUTY! He has scored the fastest century by any Zimbabwean in ODI cricket! A resounding victory for Zimbabwe. It was basically one-way traffic throughout the chase. Their batters undoubtedly outclassed the opposition with their blade. Three of the batters went past half-century but it was Sikandar Raza who managed to reach to a hundred. Sean Williams just fell a few runs shy of his ton!
In over# 41
6
2
6
1
0
Logan van Beek 48/0(6.5)
40.5
6
SIX! Here comes the fastest century for Zimbabwe in ODI cricket from the bat of Sikandar Raza. Fuller one on off, Sikandar Raza smashes this over the extra-cover region for a huge six. Zimbabwe defeats Netherlands with the help of this maximum by 6 wickets.
40.4
2
On a length around middle, Sikandar Raza smashes this blindly towards the long leg region for a couple.
40.3
6
SIX! Sikandar Raza moves to 94 with this maximum. Short-pitched delivery around the waist, Sikandar Raza swirls and smashes this for a maximum over the fine leg region for a maximum.
40.2
1
Back of a length around middle, Ryan Burl tucks this towards square leg for a single.
40.1
.
On a length around off, Ryan Burl defends this off the front foot.
In over# 40
2
1
1
0
0
1
Clayton Floyd 42/0(7)
39.6
2
Tossed up on off, Sikandar Raza drives this towards sweeper cover for a single.
39.5
1
Fuller one on pads, Ryan Burl pushes this to the on side for a single.
39.4
1
Tossed up on off, Sikandar Raza lofts this over the extra-cover region towards Max O'Dowd at deep extra cover for a single. Max O'Dowd drops a sitter.