Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran hit centuries to propel the West Indies to a convincing 101-run win over Nepal on the World Cup Qualifier in Harare on Thursday. Hope scored 132 whereas Pooran made a brisk 115 because the pair placed on 216 for the fourth wicket to assist the two-time champions publish 339-7 after a nasty begin to the innings. Kyle Mayers fell for only one and Johnson Charles was out for nought because the West Indies slumped to 9-2. Opener Brandon King made 32 earlier than he was bowled by leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. “We were put on the back foot there,” stated Hope.

“The key was absorbing as much pressure as possible and then find a way to transfer that pressure in the back end.

“Pooran made it lots simpler for me. The intention was to take it as deep as doable give us the very best probability in direction of the top.”

Hope and Pooran joined forces in the 16th over and took the game away from Nepal, who were left to rue a dropped catch off Pooran early in his innings.

Wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh put down a Pooran edge off left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi when the batsman was on just three.

With Hope ticking along at a more sedate pace, Pooran took on the role of aggressor before both players reached their hundreds in the 40th over.

Hope completed his 15th ODI ton off 107 balls before Pooran carved Gulsan Jha to the boundary a few deliveries later to bring up his second one-day century off 81 balls — four years after his first.

Dipendra Singh Airee finally eliminated Pooran for 115 with a terrific catch off his personal bowling however Rovman Powell saved the runs flowing with a quick-fire 29 alongside Jason Holder‘s 16 not out.

Hope holed out to long-off within the ultimate over for 132 and Keemo Paul was bowled off the final ball as Rajbanshi completed with 3-52.

Nepal’s chase started poorly with Alzarri Joseph uprooting Kushal Bhurtel‘s off stump within the second over. Bhim Sharki soon followed when he was caught behind off Holder trying a scoop shot.

Several Nepali batsmen made decent starts but only Aarif Sheikh passed fifty, reaching 63 before falling to a stunning Pooran catch in the deep as his team was bowled out for 238.

Holder took 3-34 for the West Indies with Joseph, Paul and Akeal Hosein all picking up two wickets.

The West Indies have won their first two matches and moved above tournament hosts Zimbabwe on net run rate at the top of Group A. The two nations meet in their next match on Saturday.

In Thursday’s other game, the Netherlands bounced back from an opening loss to Zimbabwe by condemning the United States to a third straight defeat.

Shayan Jahangir top-scored with 71 as the USA scrapped their way to 211-8, but Dutch captain Scott Edwards led his team to a five-wicket victory with an unbeaten 67 after Teja Nidamanuru steadied the innings with his 58.

The USA are eliminated from contention while the Netherlands and Nepal face off Saturday in a contest that will likely determine which team advances to the Super Six stage.

The qualifiers continue on Friday with surprise Group B leaders Oman hunting a third successive win against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo, while Scotland play the United Arab Emirates.

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