Nepal 290/8 (50) lost by 8 wickets to Zimbabwe 291/2 (44.1)
HARARE – Unbeaten centuries from Craig Ervine and Sean Williams helped Zimbabwe to a resounding win in their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 opener against Nepal on Sunday.
Chasing an imposing total of 290, Ervine hit a 128-ball 121 featuring 15 fours and a six, while Williams struck 102 off 70 balls as Zimbabwe reached 291 for the loss of two wickets with 35 balls remaining.
Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh hit 99 and 66 respectively to help Nepal to 290 for eight wickets off their 50 overs at the Harare Sports Club.
Wellington Masakadza eventually claimed both Bhurtel and Sheikh’s wickets and Richard Ngarava took 4-43 off his nine overs.
In front of a large crowd, Zimbabwe lost Joylord Gumbie (25) and Wessly Madhevere (32) before Ervine and Williams took control of Nepal’s bowling attack.
“We didn’t start really well, dropped catches cost us but credit to the guys for pulling it back. We thought that 280/290 would be chaseable because the wicket looked very nice,” said Ervine.
“I think it’s well played today, rest day tomorrow and a quick turnaround when we play the Netherlands next on Tuesday.”
In the other Group A match, the West Indies beat the United States by 39 runs after setting a target of 297. The United States were 258/7 in reply when they ran out of overs.
The action continues Monday, with Sri Lanka facing the United Arab Emirates and Ireland taking on Oman in Group B matches at Bulawayo.
Only two of the 10 teams taking part in the three-week qualifier will make the World Cup to be played in India in October and November.
Zimbabwe are in Group A with the West Indies, Nepal, Netherlands and the United States of America.
Group B has Sri Lanka, Ireland, Oman, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates.
The top three sides in each group will advance to the Super Six stage, with the bottom two sides in each group playing off to decide the seventh to 10th placings.
At the Super Six stage, the teams will play the three qualifiers from the other group, with the two results against teams from their own group carrying forward from the group stage. The Super Six stage will commence on 29 June and for the first time in this tournament, DRS will be used for all matches from this stage onwards.
The top two teams after the Super Six stage will be able to book their tickets to India as the two qualifiers for the Cricket World Cup 2023.
They will also play off to be crowned Qualifiers champion in the final on 9 July.
ZIMBABWE: Joylord Gumbie, Craig Ervine (capt), Wessly Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Clive Madande (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani
NEPAL: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Malla, Rohit Paudel (capt), Aarif Sheikh, Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee, Bhim Sharki, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane
