Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo
SEAN Williams and Craig Ervine were the roast of Zimbabwe’s Chevrons when both scored centuries in the eight-wicket win over Nepal at Harare Sports Club today.
It was the kind of start the hosts needed in this 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. They became the first to score centuries in the tournament as they both remained undefeated with a 150- run partnership for the third wicket.
Williams scored the fastest century (70 balls) by a Zimbabwean in One Day Internationals (ODIs) in what was his 150th match for his country.
Ervine notched his 128-ball century making it three consecutive ones in a 50-over cricket, coming from Zimbabwe Select’s preparatory series against Pakistan Shaheens last month.
It was Williams’ sixth international century in 50-over cricket and Ervine’s fourth as they comfortably helped Zimbabwe chase down Nepal’s 291 runs target.
After winning the toss and electing to field first, Zimbabwe restricted Nepal to 290/8 in 50 overs before going on to easily chase down the score, finishing on 291/2 in 44,1 overs to open their tournament on a high note. It was however not a good outing for Zimbabwe in the middle of the park in the match’s first innings as Nepal looked threatening with the bat in the early stages of the game.
Dropping catches and also conceding runs through misfields, the Chevrons broke Nepal’s opening partnership with 171 runs on the board. Wellington Masakadza got the breakthrough for the Chevrons bowling out Kushal Bhurtel on 99 runs from 95 deliveries with 31,5 overs played. Masakadza also went on to claim the wicket of another dangerman, Aasif Sheikh who fell for 66 runs off 100 balls.
Masakadza finished with those two scalps in his 10 over spell and gave away 42 runs. The pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers was left arm seamer Richard Ngarava who finished with impressive figures of 4/43 in nine overs. Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani took one wicket each, conceding 59 and 48 runs respectively in seven and 10 overs.
There was no other half century from Nepal with the third highest scorer being Kushal Malla with 41 runs from 42 deliveries while captain, Rohit Paudel made 31 runs after facing 29 balls. In their chase, there was a good opening stand between Ervine and debutant Joylord Gumbie.
The openers put up a 45 runs partnership for the first wicket before Gumbie fell for 25 runs from 29 balls. After the wicket of Gumbie, Ervine was joined by Wessly Madhevere who was caught on 32 runs from 38 balls while attempting to play a short ball, leaving the team on 127-2 in 23,2 overs. – @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter