Kathmandu: Host Zimbabwe has defeated Nepal by 8 wickets in the first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, 2023. In the match held in Harare earlier today, Zimbabwe made it look easy surpassing Nepal’s relatively good total of 290 runs. Riding on a third wicket partnership of 150 runs in 121 balls between Craig Ervine and Sean Williams, the host surpassed the Nepali total in 44.1 overs, at the loss of only 2 wickets.
Man-of-the-match Ervine hit 121 runs in 128 balls while Williams scored 102 runs in 70 balls to ensure a victory in the inaugural match of the qualifiers before the home crowd. For Nepal, Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha took one wicket a piece, as none of the bowlers were able to contain the free flowing batsmen of the host country. Nepal today used 8 bowlers but of no avail.
Earlier, after being put into bat first, Nepal scored a promising 290 runs at the loss of 8 wickets in the scheduled 50 overs. The total was possible due to the record partnership of 171 runs in 31.5 overs for the first wicket, between openers Kushal Bhurtel and Ashif Sheikh.
Kushal scored 99 runs including 13 fours and 2 sixes while Asif scored 66 runs. Similarly, Kushal Malla scored 41 runs while Gulsan Jha scored 13 runs and Arif Sheikh contributed 10 runs. For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava of took 4 wickets and Wellington Masakadza took 2 wickets. Similarly, Blessing Mujarabani and Tendai Chatara took one wicket each.
Nepal will now play against the USA in its second match on coming June 20. In group A, Nepal is together with host Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, West Indies and the USA. Group B consists of Ireland, Oman, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the UAE.
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