The Windies averted disaster and swung the Cricket World Cup Qualifier back their way after chasing down Zimbabwe’s 289 in a tense Super Six game at Harare Sports Club.

While a win for Zimbabwe would have confirmed their spot in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales, the result put the Windies top of the table and means both sides require wins in their final Super Six matches to guarantee their qualification for the tournament.

After Brendan Taylor’s superb 138 had guided the hosts to a strong total, West Indies put together a succession of telling partnerships to secure victory despite Zimbabwe threatening yet another dramatic comeback.

Chris Gayle got things off to a brisk start by striking consecutive sixes off Sikandar Raza in a breezy 13-ball 18. Zimbabwe were delighted to get him early – caught at third man off Blessing Muzarabani (2/36) – but they would have to wait a while longer for any further breakthroughs.

Evin Lewis batted well alongside No.3 Shai Hope to compile 64 – including seven fours and a six – before departing caught and bowled to Raza in the 22nd over.

Hope and Player of the Match Marlon Samuels then set about putting the Windies in charge, milking the Zimbabwe attack and gradually accelerating to get their team within striking distance of the total at 245/2.

Samuels was furious with himself for falling caught behind to a Muzarabani slower ball in the 44th over for 86, and he might have been even more upset had he known the collapse that would ensue.

Hope was out just five balls later for 76, to a brilliant catch in the deep by Raza off the left-arm spin of Sean Williams. Now it was 249/4 in the 45th with two new batsmen at the crease, both of whom – Shimron Hetmyer (13) and Jason Holder (6) – were out in the 46th to leave the WIndies 265/6. Zimbabwe had taken four wickets in three overs while Windies – with Hetmyer having come out all guns blazing – had put on 22 runs.

With the crowd a-buzz and sensing yet another comeback win from Zimbabwe, it took cool heads and cautious batting from Rovman Powell (15*) and Ashley Nurse (8*) to see their team over the line in the end. The pair picked up 10 singles, a two, two boundaries and two extras to reach the 21 required from the last four overs, which was achieved with an over to spare.

icc-cricket.com Presser

Zimbabwe came back from behind to beat Ireland by 107 runs in a Super Six fixture of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.

In front of 7,500 noisy and celebrating spectators, Zimbabwe looked dead and buried when they slipped to 139 for seven in the 34^th over after being sent into bat, before Sikandar Raza’s undefeated 69 lifted them to 211 for nine.

Left-arm spinner Tendai Chisoro then followed up his 21 with the bat to pick off three frontline batsmen as Ireland slipped to 54 for five, before Graeme Cremer ran through the middle and lower-order with three for 18 as the 2009 qualifier champions were dismissed for 104.

The victory helped Zimbabwe join Scotland on five points and ahead in first place on net run-rate, while Ireland were left with two points in fourth position.

Both sides have two matches remaining, with Zimbabwe to square off against the Windies and the United Arab Emirates on 19 and 22 March, respectively, while Ireland have tricky matches against Scotland and Afghanistan on 18 and 23 March, respectively.

The top two sides from this tournament will qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, which will be held in England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July.

ICC Presser

The qualification campaign to next year’s cricket world cup shifted up a gear on Thursday with the start of the Super Six round.

A selection of Super Six matches including the final will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

The West Indies and Scotland are in prime position to make the 2019 cricket showpiece event in England and Wales as they occupy first and second spot respectively on the table by the points gained in the group stages against nations who have also progressed to this round.

The group stage results between nations who progress beyond the group stages are carried forward to the Super Six round, with the points gained against nations who failed to progress beyond the group stages falling away.

Each team will then play the qualifiers from the other group.

The top two teams at the end of the Super Six stage earn qualification to the world cup and contest a final to determine the winner of the tournament.

Zimbabwe and Ireland are hot on the heels of the West Indies and Ireland, and it’s going to be a four-way battle as to which two nations make the world cup.

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