ASHLEY DUBE & TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA
Nepal faced West Indies at Harare Sports on 22 June 2023, a match dominated by the Caribbean side as they emerged triumphant with a 101 runs victory.
Nepal won the toss and elected to bowl. It seemed an inspired decision, as they took three early wickets. They had the run rate under control as well with the Windies scoring at under four an over.
Early wickets had given Nepal some glimmer of confidence that they could restrict the Windies to a reasonable total, before Hope and Pooran crushed such momentum and poise into smithereens.
Captain Shai Hope was joined by Nicholas Pooran in their blistering batting performance. The pair combined to a 216 run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Both batsman got hundreds with Pooran being the more aggressive striking at 122.34 for his 115; ripping through Nepal's bowling attack as the scores proliferated much to Nepal's agony.
Hope top-scored with 132 runs after facing 129 balls.
All-rounders Rovman Powell and Jason Holder added gloss to an all-round batting display as the men from the Carribbean side set a mammoth target of 339 for the loss of seven wickets.
West Indies were terrific in bowling as Nepal's chase was fast floundering in the face of a gigantic target set by West Indies when they were at 92-5.
Nepal's ship seemed to have steadied, although a bit uneasy, halfway through their innings; registering runs at a snail's pace as the Windies' bowling strategems seemed impregnable.
When Nepal were at 129-6 the Windies were firmly certain of securing an immensely convincing victory.
Nepal's batting was lacklustre, an uninspiring batting display that could almost be labelled as sluggard when compared to their performance against Zimbabwe.
Windies had some bits of horrific fielding that were however offset with brilliant and clinical displays too.
The defence-dominated batting by Nepal seemed to indicate they would attempt batting out the 50 overs.
Nepal never threatened in pursuit of the 340 target as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
They trudged along their innings almost completing their 50 over quota before being bowled out for 238.
Aarif Sheik top scored with 62. Jason Holder finished with best bowling fugures of 3-34 for the West Indies.
Shai Hope was named Player of the Match.
The West Indies' next encounter pits them against host nation Zimbabwe who are also unbeaten and looking in fine form. It has all the makings of a thrilling encounter.
The USA on the other hand is the first team to bow out as they lost to the Netherlands by 5 wickets.
The USA had a disastrous start at 79-5, but they recovered to set 212.
The Dutch led by Teja Nidamanuru and Scott Edwards who both scored fifties ensured victory for the Nederlands, keeping their super six hopes alive.
Scott Edwards was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 67.
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