CRAIG Ervine (121) and Sean Williams (102) notched unbeaten centuries as Zimbabwe hammered Nepal by eight wickets with 35 balls to spare in their Group A encounter of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Zimbabwe finished the match 291/2 in 44.1 overs in response to Nepal’s 290/8, a perfect present to all the fathers on Father’s Day.
Chevrons Captain and opener, Ervine, was the first to get to a hundred off 111 balls with a ‘boundary over the covers from Aarif Sheikh after 37.8 overs. All-rounder, Williams, playing in his 150th One Day International for Zimbabwe, had a milestone to remember as he took on Nepal bowlers late in the innings to reach his century in just 70 balls. Like his skipper, Williams found his gap through the cover region for a four but this time off Gulsan Jha on the last ball of the 44th over.
Both men made identical jubilant jumps after getting to their hundreds, a punch in the air before embracing as Zimbabwe made light work on Nepal’s total of 290/8, which looked intimidating initially.
Debutant, Joylord Gumbie scored 25 runs from 29 balls before falling to an LBW off Sompal Kami. At the same time, Wessly Madhevere (32) gave a good account of himself at the top order. He, however, perished in fine leg while attempting to hit JHA over the top but into the safe hands of Singh Airee.
Seamer Richard Ngarava was the pick of Zimbabwe bowlers with four wickets after a late breakthrough by spinner Wellington Masakadza removing well-set Nepal opening batsmen.
Kushal Bhurtel fell for 99 runs from 95 balls after being clean-bowled by Masakadza on the penultimate ball of the 32nd over. Masakadza’s fifth ball of his next claimed another wicket; this time, he had Aasif Sheikh caught by Ryan Burl for 66 runs. Nepal were on course to a big score of 174/2 after 33.5 overs.
Zimbabwe suffered five penalty runs in the 42nd after wicketkeeper Clive Madande removed his gloves while attempting a runout. The ball hit the gloves as he collected the ball, gifting Nepal with five free runs.
Then entered, Ngarava taking four wickets for 43 runs from nine overs playing in only his first match for the Chevrons after the death of his mother last month. Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani picked a wicket each as Nepal totalled 290/8 in 50 overs.
Squads- Zimbabwe- Joylord Gumbie, Craig Ervine (Captain), Wessley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani.
Nepal- Kuushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Rohit Paudel (Captain), Aarif Sheikh, Gulsan Jha, Dipendrah Singh Airee, Bhim Sharki, Karan KC, Sompal Kami.
