Singapore T20I Tri-Nation Series 2019: Match 4, Nepal vs Zimbabwe, Review: Sean Williams' all-round effort helps Zimbabwe win a crucial game

The second leg of the ongoing T20I tri-series in Singapore got underway today with the match between Nepal and Zimbabwe. All the three teams had won a game each and only net run-rate separated them in the points table. However, Zimbabwe have now gone to the top of the table with a crucial win over Nepal in the fourth match of the series thanks to their skipper Sean Williams’ all-round effort.

After opting to bowl first, Nepal struck in the very first over as Sandeep Lamichhane trapped the opener Brian Chari in front of the stumps. Regis Chakabva was castled then by Sompal Kami to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 30/2. From here on, Sean Williams came out and took the control of the innings. The score soon became 38/3 as Peter Moor also got out after scoring 21 off just 12 balls.

Tinotenda Mutumbodzi then joined hands with Williams (53) as the duo added 60 runs for the fourth wicket. The run-scoring was also decent from Zimbabwe during this partnership. But both of them got out in the space of six deliveries and at 112/5 after 14 overs, one felt that they will end up with a below-par score. But Ryan Burl played a brilliant cameo of 28* runs to propel Zimbabwe to 160 runs for the loss of six wickets after 20 overs.

Williams shines with the ball too

Nepal needed to get off to a good start to have any chance of chasing down the total. But Sean Williams opened the bowling and struck in the very first over. Soon the score became 5/2 and then 33/3. The wickets kept on falling at the regular intervals. Binod Bhandari held one end scoring 33 runs off 35 balls but no other batsman could stay in the middle with him.

Nepal could never up the ante in the chase and could only reach 120 runs for the loss of nine wickets after 20 overs. Rather after the first few overs, the result was out of the question. Williams delivered for his team with the ball as he returned with the figures of 3/21 in his four overs. The 40-run victory has skyrocketed Zimbabwe’s net run-rate and have almost qualified for the final now.

They should only concentrate on not losing their last league game by a big margin. Nepal, on the other hand, should win the next match to stay in the hunt.

Brief Scores

Zimbabwe: 160/6 after 20 overs (S Williams 53; S Kami 2/15; S Lamichhane 2/27)

Nepal: 120/9 after 20 overs (B Bhandari 33; S Williams 3/21, T Mutumbodzi 2/12)

Result: Zimbabwe won by 40 runs