ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Super Sixes Match 5, Review: Taylor's ton goes in vain as Windies beat the hosts in crucial game

Team Zimbabwe had a golden opportunity to seal their berth for the ICC World Cup 2019. They were up against Windies in the fifth game of the Super Sixes in the Qualifiers. A win in the match would have taken them to England for the coveted event in 2o19. But as the things turned out to be on the day, the Windies beat the hosts to keep them waiting a little more.

Also with the Windies win and the Zimbabwean defeat, the Qualifiers is left wide open now with multiple teams getting back in the frame to qualify. Commenting on the game, Zimbabwean batter Brendan Taylor scored a magnificent ton to take the hosts to 289 after batting first. The Men from the Caribbean managed to win the game by 4 wickets riding on a spirited batting effort.

Coming to the game, Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat first. The hosts had a horrific start to their innings with Jason Holder dismissing Cephas Zhuwawo for a duck in the second over of the game. Hamilton Masakadza (7) failed with the bat on the day and became the second victim of Holder four overs later. Veteran batsman Brendan Taylor then joined Solomon Mire at the crease.

The two batsman had started getting along well when Mire had to head back to the pavilion after getting injured. Craig Irvine came in next but could only add 14 to the team’s total. Sean Williams proved to be a good partner for Brendan Taylor. The two senior players rallied along to tickle the team total over the 100-run mark.

Soon, Taylor reached a well compiled fifty with a boundary in the 27th over of the game. A couple of overs later, Keemo Paul struck for Windies to dismiss Williams on 34 (31). Sikandar Raza, the in form batsman, was the new man in. He played a handy cameo of 22 before becoming Holder’s third victim of the night. Meanwhile, in the 38th over, Taylor reached his three-figure mark putting Zimbabwe in a comfortable position.

This was his 10th century in the ODI cricket. While Taylor continued to bat well, he ran out of partners at the other end. Solomon Mire did come back to bat again and ended with a 33-ball 45 to his name. In the end, the innings wrapped on the final delivery of the 50 overs. Owing to a brilliant 138 off 124 deliveries with 20 fours and 2 sixes, Zimbabwe posted 289 runs on the board. For the Windies, skipper Holder bagged 4/35 to be the pick of the bowlers.

And the run chase

In the run chase, Windies got off to a decent start with the openers, Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle, adding 38 runs for the first wicket. Gayle was the first to be dismissed on 17 by Blessing Muzarabani. Shai Hope and Evin Lewis then added a decent partnership of 72 runs for the second wicket to take good control over the chase.

In the process, Evin Lewis reached his fifty in the 18th over of the game. He could not add much to his total after that though. Lewis was dismissed caught and bowled by Sikandar Raza on 64 (75). Marlon Samuels was the new man in. The Windies tickled past the 150-run mark as Shai Hope reached his well-compiled fifty on the day. Soon, Samuels also reached his fifty in the 37th over as Windies eased towards their target.

Zimbabwe managed to get back in the game with quick wickets. Both Samuels (86 off 80 deliveries) and Hope (76 off 97 deliveries) perished in the space of six deliveries. Shimron Heytmer and Jason Holder headed back cheaply as well. The Windies slumped from 245/2 to 265/6. Rovman Powell and Ashley Nurse had 25 runs to get in 26 deliveries.

They took the game to the penultimate over before a six from Powell sealed the fate of the game. It was an error on the part of Graeme Cremer to let Sean Williams bowl the over when Kyle Jarvis and Muzarabani had their overs left. Windies sailed over the line with 4 wickets in hand. With the win, they now stay alive in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Brief Scores:

Zimbabwe 289/10 in 50 overs (Brendan Taylor 138, Mire 45, Holder 4/35, Roach 3/55)

Windies 290/6 in 49 overs (Samuels 86, Shai Hope 76, Muzarabani 2/36, Cremer 2/63)

Player of the Match: Marlon Samuels

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