adminBlessing Malinganiza
SIKANDAR Raza delivered a masterclass, with both bat and ball, as the Chevrons showed great character to beat the Netherlands at a rocking Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Zimbabwe now has two wins, from two matches, in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
On both occasions, their batting was tested and, just like on Sunday, the Chevrons answered back in style.
Yesterday, they won by six wickets with 55 balls to spare.
“Listen as much as I am smiling, but the job is not done yet,” said Raza, who scored the fastest ODI century for Zimbabwe.
“We backed ourselves, we had Pakistan A for six games and we chased 300 plus.
“I just wanted to go out there, the platform was already set, I just wanted to stay humble, and respect every ball but it was there, I went for it.”
He added:
“As long as we win the game, we are happy and we are happy for each other’s performance and support each other.
“Thankful for the wonderful support.”
He combined a fine bowling performance and a swashbuckling batting display as he took four wickets and scored an unbeaten hundred.
Zimbabwe chased down Netherlands’ 315/6 scoring 319/4 in 40.5 overs,
Sean Williams and Craig Ervine added 91 and 50 runs.
Raza needed just 54 deliveries to claim the bragging rights by hitting six boundaries and eight maximums.
Netherlands set 315/6 after they were thrown in to bat first by Zimbabwe captain Ervine who won the toss.
Raza pegged back the Dutch, who were on course towards a big total dismissing their top three batsmen by clean bowling, Max O’Dowd and Wesley Barresi for 89 and four runs, respectively.
He then had opener Vikramjit Singh caught by Wellington Masakadza for 88 runs as Netherlands fell to 223/3 after 38.3 overs.
Ervine opened the batting with Joylord Gumbie and scored a 48-ball 50 before he was sent back to the pavilion with Zimbabwe on 80/1.
Gumbie fell 10 runs short of his maiden half century after he was bowled by Shariz Amad for 40.
Ryan Burl played anchor to Raza as he went in search of his century and was not out on 16.
With Zimbabwe needing two runs to win and Raza in search of six runs to get to his hundred, the all-rounder lofted Logan van Beek’s delivery over mid-off for a six getting his hundred and the team across the line.
“We were not particularly great with the ball again, but credit to Williams and Raza the way they pretty much just cantered through,” said Ervine.
“The ball striking from them was phenomenal.
“It was a little bit of a tricky start but was a really good wicket. Once you get going, it is difficult to restrict. We wanted to restrict them to 290 to 300, but we finished the innings well.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter