Two-time champions West Indies face an almighty activity to qualify for the Cricket World Cup after dropping to the Netherlands in an exhilarating last group sport determined by a brilliant over Monday. Nicholas Pooran‘s second hundred of the qualifiers propelled West Indies to a commanding 374-6, however Teja Nidamanuru hit 111 in reply and the Dutch wanted one from the ultimate ball for victory. Jason Holder took a superb catch to disclaim Logan van Beek because the scores completed tied, however Van Beek blasted Holder for 30 runs within the tremendous over to arrange a outstanding win in Harare. He hit 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, 4 on successive deliveries.

Van Beek then restricted the West Indies to only eight off 5 balls as he eliminated Johnson Charles and Romario Shepherd with successive deliveries to seal a rare triumph. “I cannot really explain it at the moment. We wanted to do something special,” mentioned Van Beek.

“I have been playing for a long time. The amount of games I have lost from those situations, it was just satisfying to get across the line.”
“Now we have a chance to go to the World Cup in India and that is really huge,” he added.

Pooran blasted an unbeaten 104 off 65 balls after openers Brandon King (76) and Charles (54) each made half-centuries because the West Indies put collectively an imposing whole batting first. King and Charles supplied a powerful platform with a 101-run opening partnership. Shai Hope added 47 in one other century stand with Pooran earlier than Keemo Paul smacked a quick-fire 46 not out.

The Netherlands reached 76 with out loss to start out the chase, however it wasn’t till Nidamanuru and captain Scott Edwards (67) got here collectively that they regarded in with an opportunity of really succeeding. Once they fell in consecutive overs, Van Beek and Aryan Dutt took up the problem solely to falter with 5 runs wanted off the final 5 balls and with the end line seemingly in sight.

After failing to shut it out off the ultimate supply from Alzarri Joseph, Van Beek exploded within the tremendous over to depart the West Indies in actual hazard of lacking the World Cup later this yr. “We let ourselves down there,” mentioned Hope, the West Indies captain.

“We know what we have to do now. It is an unfortunate situation we have put ourselves in.” The Netherlands advance as runners-up of Group A and carry over two factors, however the West Indies begin with zero and must beat Scotland, Oman and Sri Lanka with their hopes hanging by a thread.

Zimbabwe hammer USA

Hosts Zimbabwe made it 4 wins from 4 as they crushed the United States by 304 runs, the second largest profitable margin by way of runs in ODI historical past. Sean Williams hit 174 off 101 balls as Zimbabwe made their highest one-day whole with a mammoth 408-6 after which bowled out the USA for simply 104.

They narrowly missed breaking the document for the most important margin of victory in a one-day worldwide, set at first of the yr when India thrashed Sri Lanka by 317 runs in Thiruvananthapuram.

“It was a fantastic wicket. The way we started out there, it was a little slow, so we thought if we could pick the intensity up against the spinners, we could see where we go from there,” mentioned Williams.

Zimbabwe advance to the Super Six stage as group winners and carry by means of 4 factors, nicely positioned to safe a spot on the October-November match in India. “We have found our momentum and we are looking forward to carrying it,” added Williams.

Wicketkeeper Joylord Gumbie struck a gradual 78 on the high of the order however Williams performed the starring function as Zimbabwe stepped on the accelerator as soon as the stand-in captain arrived on the crease. Williams hit 21 fours and 5 sixes earlier than he was caught within the deep within the penultimate over, with Sikandar Raza scoring 48 off 27 balls and Ryan Burl hammering 47 off simply 16 deliveries.

Only three USA batsmen reached double figures as Richard Ngarava and all-rounder Raza each took two wickets whereas three run outs compounded a dismal efficiency from the Americans.