Zimbabwe humble Nepal by eight wicket

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 19: Nepal made a losing start at ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 following an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday.

The dominant batting display from Captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams helped Zimbabwe successfully chase the 291-run victory target in 44.1 overs for the loss of two wickets. Ervine and Williams both hammered a century to give the host a winning start. 

Captain Ervine completed his fourth ODI century with his not-out 121 off 128 balls. He clubbed 15 boundaries and a single six. Williams also achieved his sixth ODI hundred with his not-out quick-fire 70-ball 102. He cracked 13 boundaries and a single six. 

Captain Ervine and Williams paired for a not-out 164-run third wicket stand. 

Wessly Madhevere hit 32 runs off 38 balls and Joylord Gumbie contributed 25 runs for the winning side. 

Nepali bowlers could not find any answer to the batting of Ervine and Williams as Sompal Kami and Gulsan Jhap finished with one wicket apiece for Nepal. 

Earlier, Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh put on a 171-run partnership for the first wicket as Nepal hit its third-highest ODI total of 290 runs losing eight wickets in 50 overs. 

The 171 runs partnership between Bhurtel and Sheikh became the highest ODI partnership in Nepal. The previous highest partnership was a 139-run made by Aasif Sheikh and Gyanendra Malla for the second wicket against Namibia in February. 

Bhurtel missed out on his career’s second ODI century as he returned to the pavilion scoring the highest 95-ball 99 for Nepal. His batting included 13 fences and two maximums. Bhurtel hit 115 for his first ODI Century against Namibia during World Cricket League 2 in February. 

Bhurtel survived a catch in the fourth over to continue with his valiant knock against Zimbabwe. Sikandar Raza dropped him in Richard Ngarava’s bowling. He, however, was yorked by Wellington Masakadza in the 32nd over. 

Sheikh chipped in with a 100-ball 66 that included seven boundaries before being caught out by Ryan Burl off Masakadza in the 34th over.  

Kushal Malla smacked three sixes and two boundaries in his knock of 42-ball 41. Skipper Rohit Paudel added 29-ball 31 that included five boundaries. Gulsan Jha (13) and Aarif Sheikh (10) were other double-digit contributors to Nepal. 

Richard Ngarava claimed four wickets in death overs to stop Nepal from getting past 300. Wellington Masakadza grabbed two wickets to break the first-wicket partnership of Nepal. Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani contributed one wicket apiece for host Zimbabwe.

Nepal will take on the United States of America (USA) in its second match of the qualifiers at Harare Sports Centre on Tuesday.