IN an electrifying display of tenacity, Zimbabwe stunned the prematch favourites, West Indies, winning by 35 runs in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier held at the Harare Sports Club this Saturday.
This thrilling victory secured the Chevrons a spot in the Super Six, maintaining a flawless record.
The day belonged to Sikandar Raza, who bagged his second consecutive Player of the Match award. His exceptional performance with bat and ball helped Zimbabwe edge past the Caribbean team to the top of Group A.
Despite losing the toss, Craig Ervine, Chevrons’ captain, was asked to bat first. The team managed a challenging score of 268 runs before being bowled out with just a single ball remaining in their innings.
Star performer Raza top-scored with 68 off 58 balls. Ryan Burl contributed a steady half-century, while Blessing Muzarabani (11) and Tendai Chatara (8) added a crucial 25 for the last wicket.
However, the Zimbabwean innings faced a minor hiccup as they sat precariously at 112/4 after 24.4 overs. This came after the dismissal of Sean Williams for 23, with Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, and Wessly Madhevere already back in the pavilion.
“Sean Williams is a very experienced campaigner, and it looked like he had everything under control all the way through,” Ervine acknowledged in his post-match comments. “Raza and Burl batted brilliantly for their 100-run stand. We did feel that we were maybe 20-30 short of what would probably be a winning score. It is always going to be tough (mentally).”
Despite a commendable fight from West Indies, they fell short, bowled out for 233 in just 44.4 overs. The Zimbabwean bowling attack shined brightly, with Chatara taking three wickets for 52 in 9.4 overs, while Muzarabani, Raza, and Richard Ngarava each claimed two wickets.
West Indies captain Shai Hope, despite his disappointment, maintains optimism. “Too much is on my mind right now. Not sure if I can explain it. A lot of hurting and very disappointed, but the tournament is not over yet,” stated Hope.
“We let ourselves down in the field, and that cost us,” he admitted. “There will be challenges, both on and off the field. We have to make sure we harden ourselves and understand what we have to do moving forward.”
The Chevrons now turn their focus to their last Group A match against the USA at Harare Sports Club on Monday. This victory is not only a testament to their resilience but also a testament to the sporting spirit embodied by the team and its supporters.
