A scintillating 82 not out from Sikandar Raza helped Zimbabwe to a 46-run win and book a date with Papua New Guinea tomorrow in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier B at Queens Sports Club.
Chevrons captain Craig Ervine called correctly for the first time in the tournament and chose to bat.
Former South Africa bowler Rusty Theron bowled the second over of Zimbabwe innings. He was welcomed with a boundary over fine leg by Regis Chakabva.
Theron was hit for a massive six-over long-on the next ball and the best of the lot, a cover drive for four.
The second over costs USA 15 runs, and Zimbabwe had set the tone of what was to follow.
Theron could not hold on to a tough caught and bowled chance of the last ball of the power play from Sean Williams.
After six overs, Zimbabwe were cruising at 55-1, the only blemish being the loss of the wicket of skipper Ervine for 10 from seven balls.
Chakabva entertained the fans with a stroke-filled 31 runs from 23 balls. He was, however, dismissed when he tried to go inside out to left-arm spinner Nisarg Patel but could not get the elevation and was caught by Gajanand Singh.
After the power play, the USA bowlers strung some good overs and dried up the boundaries.
At 64-3 after nine overs, Williams and Raza’s tried and trusted hands were once again called upon.
Raza scored Zimbabwe’s first boundary after 33 balls.
Williams and Raza once again continued with their good form in the tournament sharing a 79-run partnership in which Williams was the anchor and Raza the enforcer.
Williams playing on his home ground, understood what was required and allowed Raza to flourish as they set a platform for the carnage to follow.
Zimbabwe lost the wickets of Williams 37 (35), Burl 8 (3) and Luke Jongwe 1 (2), but the stage had been set for Raza, who got to his second T20I 50 of the tournament.
USA then made a mistake by giving the ball to spinner Aaron Jones to bowl the final over of Zimbabwe innings.
His first two balls went for sixes over cow corner. He tried to change his length on the third ball, and Raza went straight over long on for another towering six.
There was a mini-conference in the middle, and the think tank decided that Jones must try and go round the wicket.
His first ball was a wide, and the extra delivery was fired down the leg side, and Raza missed out and could only manage a single.
The final over eventually cost USA 26 runs.
Chasing 186 for victory, the USA needed a good start in the power play if they entertained any hopes of topping the group.
The North Americans had a brilliant start with the dangerous Steven Taylor and wicketkeeper-batsman Patel taking a liking towards Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.
After six overs, USA matched Zimbabwe pound for pound at 55-1; Patel, the batsman fell to Ngarava for 17.
After the power play, wheels came off the USA batting innings.
Wellington Masakadza was the pick of Zimbabwe bowlers with four for 11 in three overs.
USA eventually closed on 139-8 and being brought back to mother earth by Zimbabwe.
USA will have to dust themselves up and face Netherlands in the other semi-final tomorrow afternoon.
