Raza breaks record in Zimbabwe rut-hunt to win

Netherlands – 315-6 in 50 overs (Vikramjit Singh 88, Scott Edwards 83, Max O’Dowd 59; Sikandar Raza 4/55, Richard Ngarava 2/40)

Zimbabwe – 319-4 in 40.5 overs (Sikandar Raza 102*, Sean Williams 91, Craig Ervine 50; Shariz Ahmad 2/62, Vikramjit Singh 1/33, Bas de Leede 1/51)

Zimbabwe gained by six wickets

A superb record-breaking century from Sikandar Raza was the spotlight of an outstanding victory by Zimbabwe over the Netherlands by a margin of six wickets and with virtually 9 overs to spare of their ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier match at Harare Sports activities Membership on Tuesday.

After claiming a four-wicket haul that helped prohibit the Dutch to a complete of 315, Raza went on to attain the quickest ever ODI hundred by a Zimbabwe batter, ending unbeaten on 102 off 54 deliveries, because the hosts chased down the goal with ease.

Zimbabwe gained the toss and put their opponents in to bat, however had been quickly on the receiving finish of one of the best batting the Netherlands have ever produced towards them.

The aggressive opening pair of Vikramjit Singh and Max O’Dowd started the assault on the bowlers instantly, one boundary following one other as they placed on 120 runs for his or her partnership, which was not damaged till the twenty first over.

Then Raza, the sixth bowler tried, did the trick when he deceived O’Dowd with a quicker ball that he chopped on to his stumps – he had scored 59 off 67 balls with 10 fours.

Wesley Barresi didn’t final lengthy, scoring solely 4 runs earlier than he went for an bold swap hit and was bowled.

The opposite bowlers had been unable to proceed the progress as one other massive stand developed, the captain Scott Edwards becoming a member of Singh in a partnership that was so as to add one other 96 runs in 16 overs.

It took Raza once more to interrupt the stand, as Singh miscued a sweep and was caught by Wellington Masakadza off the highest edge for 88, scored off 111 balls with 9 fours, at 223 for 3 within the thirty ninth over.

Raza made it 4 in a row as a faster ball bowled out the skilled Bas de Leede for 4, after which Richard Ngarava, coming again to bowl with actual tempo, had Teja Nidamanuru caught by Craig Ervine at cowl for 4 – 238 for 5 within the forty second over.

However then got here one other very important partnership, as Edwards and Saqib Zulfiqar added 59 in lower than seven overs.

Edwards performed a superb innings that got here to an finish when Ngarava in his remaining spell bowled him out with a fierce yorker for 83, scored off solely 72 balls with eight fours.

The rating was then 297 for six after 48 overs, and the following pair scored one other 18 runs off the final two overs to complete at 315 for six off their 50 overs, Zulfiqar making 34 not out off 31 balls.

This was the best complete recorded by both staff in seven ODIs between them, beating Zimbabwe’s 301 for eight wickets in Bulawayo within the 2003 World Cup, whereas one of the best for the Netherlands was a victorious 291 for seven at Deventer in their very own nation in 2019.

It had been an outstanding batting efficiency by the Netherlands, as their innings closed at 315 for six.

Raza completed with 4 wickets for 55 runs, whereas Ngarava was essentially the most hostile and economical bowler with two for 40 off 9 overs.

In reply, after six overs Craig Ervine and Joylord Gumbie had put 19 runs on the board, after which they started to open up.

They had been helped by the Dutch fielders, who missed three probabilities whereas the pair placed on 80 runs in 13.3 overs for the primary wicket.

Ervine did a lot of the scoring, taking part in some sensible strokes, and reached 50 off 48 balls earlier than he miscued a success to mid-on and was out to catch, safely held this time.

Sean Williams, promoted within the order after this good begin, hit out boldly virtually instantly.

The rating reached 142 earlier than Gumbie was bowled off the within edge for 40, a most precious stabilising innings.

Wessly Madhevere didn’t final lengthy, slicing a catch to brief third man for 10, with the rating 162 for 3 wickets.

This was simply the sign for an elevated onslaught by the rampant Zimbabwe batters, as Raza joined Williams on the crease and confirmed sensible type from the beginning.

They added 84 runs in 10 overs, at which level Williams was on 91 and searching set to beat his personal file of Monday in scoring Zimbabwe’s quickest ODI century off 70 balls.

Nonetheless, he now miscued a pull and was caught at 246 for 4 within the thirty fifth over, having confronted solely 58 balls.

The honour of beating that file fell to Raza, now joined by Ryan Burl.

In an ever-increasing blaze of strokes, Raza took the rating previous 300, ending the match within the forty third over with two sixes in three balls.

The ultimate stroke was an off-drive into the stands, a six that additionally introduced up his personal century, scored off solely 58 balls.

He hit no fewer than eight sixes and 6 fours.

Zimbabwe’s remaining complete was 319 for 4 wickets off solely 40.5 overs, Burl ending not out with 16.

Leg-spinner Shariz Ahmed took two wickets for 62 runs, with all of the Netherlands bowlers going for no less than six runs an over.

Zimbabwe play the West Indies subsequent on Saturday on the identical floor.