Zimbabwe booked their super six spot by beating West Indies by 35 runs in a nail-biting encounter played in front of a packed Harare Sports Club.
Chevrons’ man of the moment, Sikandar Raza, picked up his second consecutive Player of the Match award, scoring 68 runs off 58 balls and taking 2 wickets for 36.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to capitalize on the morning dew, which offered some assistance to the seam bowlers.
The visitors’ first breakthrough came in the 15th over when Keemo Paul trapped Joylord Gumbie lbw for 26 runs, leaving Zimbabwe at 63/1.
Wessly Madhevere, who has been struggling for form lately, had a brief stay at the crease, perishing with just two runs on the board off the bowling of Akeal Hosein, caught by Ku Carty.
Wickets kept falling at regular intervals for Zimbabwe, with Craig Ervine departing for 47 runs and Sean Williams for 23 runs, respectively.
The 5th-wicket partnership of Raza and Ryan Burl managed to stabilize things in the middle overs, scoring 87 runs. Burl eventually lost his wicket for 50 runs lbw to Hosein.
The Chevrons’ tail failed to wag as they were eventually bowled out for 268 runs in the 49th over, with one ball to spare.
Paul was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/61.
Zimbabwe’s seamers were extremely disciplined, not leaking many runs and making the chase difficult for West Indies. Blessings Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava picked up two wickets apiece, with both their economy rates averaging 4.00.
Tendai Chatara was in inspired form, picking up 3 crucial wickets, including the scalp of Roston Chase for 44 runs at the death. Chase was the danger man and was striking the ball superbly.
West Indies eventually fell short, suffering their first defeat of the tournament.
Zimbabwe play the United States of America on Monday art the Harare Sports Club
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