HARARE: Captain Craig Ervine led from the front as Zimbabwe and West Indies kicked off their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier campaigns with comfortable wins in Harare.
Zimbabwe skipper Ervine joined forces with Sean Williams as both batters’ centuries propelled the hosts to a composed eight-wicket triumph over Nepal.
And just a few miles down the road in the Zimbabwean capital, Jason Holder and Shai Hope helped haul the West Indies to a similarly straightforward 39-run victory over the USA as the hotly-anticipated culmination of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualification process got underway.
West Indies prove too strong for battling USA
Holder, Hope, Johnson Charles and Roston Chase all combined to fire the West Indies to a composed 39-run win over the USA at Takashinga Sports Club.
All four West Indian stars made first innings half-centuries and despite Gajanand Singh’s brilliant hundred for the Americans in reply, two wickets apiece for Kyle Mayers and Alzarri Joseph helped restrict the underdogs to a total of 258 for seven.
American captain Monank Patel opted to field first in a decision that reaped almost immediate – and stunning – rewards in south-west Harare.
Patel’s side required just 2.1 overs to make the breakthrough as left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar had West Indian opener Brandon King trapped LBW without scoring.
And one became two just three overs later when Kyle Phillip bowled Mayers to reduce Hope’s stuttering side to 14 for two.
Hope and Charles soon set about rebuilding the innings, however, constructing a polished partnership of 115 as both batters brought up half-centuries. (ICC Media)
