CWC QualifiersSikandar Raza masterclass guides Zimbabwe to 35-run win over West Indies in Harare

By India Today Sports DeskAll-rounder Sikandar Raza shone with both bat and ball as Zimbabwe defeated the West Indies by 35 runs at the Harare Sports Club in a captivating clash in the World Cup qualifiers.

The day began with West Indies captain Shai Hope winning the toss and electing to bowl first. The Zimbabwean opening pair of Craig Ervine and Joylord Gumbie got their team off to a solid start, stitching a 63-run stand before Gumbie departed for 26, after being caught LBW by Keemo Paul.

Wessly Madhevere was the next batter in but couldn’t change the scoreboard much and departed after scoring just two runs. Ervine, who was close to a well-deserved half-century, fell short by four runs after being dismissed by Roston Chase. Sean Williams chipped in with 23 but could not convert his start into a big score.

However, a crucial partnership between Raza and Ryan Burl changed the game for Zimbabwe. The two batters formed an 87-run stand for the fifth wicket. Burl went on to hit 50 runs off 57 deliveries before being caught LBW by Akeal Hosein.

Raza then went on to complete his half-century despite wickets falling around him. The all-rounder scored a 58-ball 68, hitting six boundaries and two maximums, before being dismissed by Kyle Mayers. Blessing Muzarbani provided Zimbabwe with a final flourish as they finished with 268 runs on the scoreboard.

In the second innings, West Indies openers Brandon King and Mayers got off to a flyer, scoring at a positive run-rate. However, Zimbabwe picked two quick wickets to get themselves back in the contest. First, Muzarabani sent King packing in the seventh over, before Richard Ngarava dismissed Johnson Charles to leave the West Indies reeling at 46 for 2.

Then Mayers built a 64-run partnership with captain Shai Hope and even went on to complete his second Test fifty. But the Zimbabweans once again picked wickets in a bunch as the West Indies lost both Mayers and Hope in a space of three overs. Mayers departed after scoring 56 runs off 72 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries and a six, while Hope chipped in with a 39-ball 30, smashing three fours.

Nicholas Pooran scored a well-paced 36-ball 34 before being caught LBW by Ngarava, before Muzarabani sent Rovman Powell back to the pavilion in the 33rd over. Holder soon followed suit as Tendai Chatara picked his first wicket of the day. Chatara then dismissed Roston Chase and Alzarri Joseph as Zimbabwe bowled West Indies out for 233 in 44.4 overs, winning the match by 35 runs. Raza was the standout performer for Zimbabwe, scoring 68 runs and picking up two wickets.