adminRYAN BURL took three wickets and Sean Williams scored a half century as Zimbabwe made it two victories, in as many games, to book their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier B 2022 semi-finals in Bulawayo, yesterday.
It had to take a determined and disciplined performance from their bowlers, in particular Burl who took three wickets, to complete a 23-run victory over Jersey at Queens Sports Club.
After a below-par batting performance, with the exceptions of Williams and Luke Jongwe, Zimbabwe went out to the field under considerable pressure.
But, their skill, experience and discipline enabled them to triumph in the end.
The home side again lost the toss and were asked to bat first, but they suffered a bad start to their innings.
After a wide was bowled, Craig Ervine swept the first legitimate delivery of the match, from the left-arm spinner Ben Stevens, for four, but was caught off the fifth, to make the score five for one wicket.
Williams came in at number three and immediately went on the attack, hitting Charles Perchard for three fours and a two in the second over of the innings.
However, his partner Regis Chakabva was again run out attempting a quick single, after scoring only six.
Wessly Madhevere scored only a single, as he missed a sweep against Elliot Miles and was out lbw, leaving Zimbabwe reeling at 38 for three in the sixth over.
Sikandar Raza joined Williams, who continued to attack in superb fashion, scoring off almost every delivery and racing to his fifty, off only 32 deliveries.
When he reached 57, he was dismissed lbw, missing a sweep off Dominic Blampie.
The score was now 89 for four wickets in the 13th over.
This was followed in the next over by the loss of Raza, who was caught near the leg boundary for 18, off the bowling of Benjamin Ward.
Zimbabwe were now in considerable trouble at 95 for five wickets.
When the spinners, Williams and Burl, came on the batters struggled to keep the score moving quickly enough.
Burl picked up a third wicket when Stevens holed out on the midwicket boundary for three, and with the score 67 for four in the 14th over Zimbabwe, now held a definite advantage for the first time.
After 15 overs Jersey still required 69 runs in the last five overs, a very difficult task for any team.
The bowling of Burl did much to restrict the Jersey batters, as he took three wickets for 13 runs in his four overs, while Williams was nearly as economical, taking no wickets but conceding only 15 runs.
In their final Group A match tomorrow, Zimbabwe will face the United States, who trounced Singapore at Bulawayo Athletic Club, by 132 runs.
Both Zimbabwe and the USA have four points and are through to the semi-finals, but they will be fighting to finish top of the group.
Scores
Zimbabwe – 146-8 in 20 overs (Sean Williams 57, Luke Jongwe 29*, Sikandar Raza 18; Elliot Miles 2/25, Dominic Blampied 1/5, Ben Stevens 1/15)
Jersey – 123-5 in 20 overs (Harrison Carlyon 45, Benjamin Ward 35*, Asa Tribe 21; Ryan Burl 3/13, Tendai Chatara 1/21, Blessing Muzarabani 1/22)
Zimbabwe won by 23 runs – zimcricket
Online Reporter