Zimbabwe beat Netherlands by six wickets in the fifth match of the ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier 2023 at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, June 20 to make it two wins from two matches. Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza played a memorable inning of 102 runs. * Just 54 runs after taking four wickets.
Playing in their first qualifier match, the Netherlands posted a total of 315/6 batting first. Opener Vikramjit Singh top-scored with 88 off 111 balls and star batsman Max O’Dowd scored 59 to get the Dutch team off to a flying start. Raza gave the hosts the opening in the 21st over by dismissing both the openers.
Captain Scott Edwards also contributed with 83 off just 72 balls to ensure the Netherlands posted a total of over 300. Raza was the best bowler for Zimbabwe with figures of 4/55. However, Zimbabwe too responded with a strong start to their big chase. Captain Craig Ervine scored a brilliant 50 off just 48 and then in-form veteran Sean Williams, who scored a century against Nepal in the first game, scored 91 off just 58 balls.
But it was Raza who hogged the limelight when he scored 102* off just 54 balls, studded with six fours and eight sixes. His strike rate of 188.88 helped the hosts chase down the target with six wickets in hand and 55 balls to spare. It was the fastest international century by a Zimbabwean cricketer and Raza’s seventh ODI century.
In another game on Tuesday, Nepal registered a comfortable six-wicket win over USA to register their first qualifier win. After losing four wickets for just 18 runs, USA put up a fighting 207 batting first at the Takashinga Sports Club. Pakistan-born 28-year-old batsman Shayan Jahangir scored his maiden international century, scoring 100* off 79 balls for the United States, while fast bowler Karan KC took four for 33 for Nepal.
Nepal struggled to get off to a good start but Bhim Shakti scored 77* off 114 balls and star all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airey added a crucial unbeaten 39 to chase down the target in 43 overs. A win helped Zimbabwe top Group A with two big wins in their opening two games, while Nepal moved up to third with a first win.