Twitter Reactions: Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine dismantle Scotland to power Zimbabwe to Super 12

Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza played valuable innings with the bat after restricting the Scots to a below-par 132 runs in the crucial fixture.

By Chaitanya Prakash

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3 Min Read

Sikandar Raza with his team mates
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Sikandar Raza with his team mates. (Photo Source: Twitter/Zimbabwe cricket)

Zimbabwe becomes the final nation to qualify for the Super 12 stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup after defeating Scotland by five wickets in Hobart. Craig Ervine's side will join Sri Lanka, Netherlands, and Ireland in progressing through to the next stage of the global competition. Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza played valuable innings with the bat after restricting the Scots to a below-par 132 runs in the crucial fixture.

Chasing a modest total, Zimbabwe's innings got off to an unceremonious start after losing Regis Chakabva and Wesley Madhevere in the first two overs of the chase. The Scotland bowlers sensed an unlikely victory after getting rid of the veteran Sean Williams at the end of the eighth over.

However, Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine, who missed the last game due to an untimely asthma attack, stamped his authority on the game, dropping anchor at one end. While Ervine decided to bat through the innings, the mercurial Sikandar Raza launched a vicious attack on Richie Berrington's bowlers.

The swashbuckling batter registered 40 off just 23 deliveries in a 64-run stand with his skipper for the fourth wicket to take his side to the cusp of victory. Raza's dismissal in the 15th over followed by Ervine's in the 17th, tested the resolve of the African side in the dying stages of the match. But Ryan Burl ensured that his side got home without any further dents. 

Zimbabwe bowlers restricted Scotland to a modest total to hand their side the advantage

Earlier in the match, Scotland's Richie Berrington called it right at the toss and opted to bat first in the virtual knockout game. But the Scots were pushed on the backfoot instantly after the in-from Michael Jones was dismissed cheaply in the opening over of the match.

Matthew Cross, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter, followed suit in the fifth over before George Munsey, and skipper Richie Berrington stitched together a valuable 40-run stand for the third wicket. Munsey registered an uncharacteristically labored 54 off 51 deliveries. 

The departure of the well-set opener in the 17th over gave Zimbabwe the upper hand at the fag end of the innings as they managed to restrict Scotland to a below-par total of 132 runs in their 20 overs. Incidentally, this was the first time a side failed to register a single maximum in their innings in this year's edition. Tendai Chatara and Richard Ngarava shone for the African outfit, sharing four wickets between them. Sikandar Raza also chipped in with four quiet overs, conceding just 20 runs with a wicket to his name.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Zimbabwe's fabulous victory in the final group stage match:

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T20 World Cup 2024ScotlandZimbabweCraig ErvineSikandar Raza