Match 1, Harare, June 18, 2023, 12:30 PM
Nepal
290/8(50.0ov)
Zimbabwe
291/2(44.1ov)
Zimbabwe beat Nepal by 8 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Craig Ervine
Commentry
Right then, that is it from the inaugural game of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. Zimbabwe have won it comprehensively. The action continues as we have a doubleheader on Monday, 19th of June as well. It will be Ireland versus Oman and Sri Lanka versus the United Arab Emirates. Both games will be played at 12.30 pm IST (7 am GMT). Do join us for the early build-up as well. Until then, take care and cheers.
Craig Ervine the skipper of Zimbabwe says that the game did not start well for us but credit to our guys for pulling this back for us. He adds that the wicket was really good to bat on and we thought 280-290 would be really achievable as the wicket was laying really well. He adds that the openers of Nepal batted really well and credit to them for putting the side under pressure. He closes by saying that he and Sean tried to set smll targets and break the target down and that helped massively to chase this down without any hiccups.
Rohit Paudel the skipper of Nepal says that they lost the game as they did not bowl well in the game and Craig Ervine and Sean Williams took the game away from them. He adds that the team planned that anything around 280 would have been a good total but they ended up 15-20 run short at the end on this track. He closes by saying that they prefer chasing but both setting up a total and chase them down are important for them. He also says that they are taking one game at a time and it is a long tournament so they are not disheartened by this.
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Earlier in the game, Nepal batted well and it was Kushal Bhurtel who was dismissed at 99 runs! Aasif Sheikh played well alongside him and was dismissed for 66 runs. Both the wickets were picked by Wellington Masakadza. Richard Ngarava picked up four wickets for Zimbabwe.
Nepal bowlers struggled their way to break Zimbabwe's third wicket partnership and that is what cost them the game. Sompal Kami and Gulsan Jha picked a wicket each for Nepal. They will look to bounce back from this and put up a good show in their next game.
Craig Ervine was in full flow hitting the ball all around the park and Sean Williams played as the perfect foil to him. They stitched a third-wicket partnership of 164 runs and got the Zimbabwe well over the line. Both of them scored a century.
What a win, what a fantastic chase it was from Zimbabwe. When Nepal ended their innings at 290 courtesy to their opening stand and a 99-run heart breaking knock from Kushal Bhurtel, we felt they have done well but the Zimbabwean skipper had different ideas.
In over# 45
1lb
Rohit Paudel 14/0(2.1)
44.1
1lb
Leg bye. Fuller one going down leg, Craig Ervine looks to sweep but gets it defelcted from his pads and they take a single as the ball travels to short fine leg. Zimbabwe seals victory with this single.
In over# 44
4
2
2
6
4
1
Gulsan Jha 56/1(8)
43.6
4
FOUR! Here it is a century for Sean Williams. Back of a length delivery outside off, Sean Williams threads the gap on the cover region for a boundary and he celebrates his century. Zimbabwe is just one hit away from a victory here.
43.5
2
Fuller on on off, Sean Williams smashes this to deep mid-wicket for a couple as he moves one shot away from his century.
43.4
2
Fuller one in middle, Sean Williams drives this wide of long off for a couple.
43.3
6
SIX!! Back of a length around the waist Sean Williams picks it up early and pulls this for a maximum over towards the mid-wicket region.
43.2
4
FOUR! This has been a treat to watch these two bat together. On a length outside off, Sean Williams smashes this past the fielder at mid off for a powerfully hit boundary.
43.1
1
Fuller one in middle, Craig Ervine pushes this to long on for a single.
In over# 43
4
4
1
4
0
1
Sandeep Lamichhane 77/0(10)
42.6
4
FOUR! From reverse to the convetional sweep this time. Fuller one outside off, Sean Williams plays the reverse sweep wide of long leg for a boundary.