Hosts Zimbabwe and former champions Sri Lanka are in prime place to clinch the ultimate two qualifying spots for this yr’s Cricket World Cup, whereas two-time winners the West Indies danger lacking the event for the primary time. With 4 wins from 4 group matches, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka head into the decisive Super Six stage of the qualifiers with 4 factors apiece — carrying over the rewards earned for beating the groups that additionally superior from the primary spherical.
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Backed by sturdy batting shows, which included making a nationwide report 408-6 towards the USA, Zimbabwe shall be assured the runs will proceed to movement because the stakes mount from Thursday twenty ninth June, 2023. “We have found our momentum and we are looking forward to carrying it,” mentioned Sean Williams, who scored 174 in Monday’s 304-run rout of the USA. Williams is comfortably the highest run-scorer with 390, hitting an unbeaten century towards Nepal and following it up with 91 towards the Netherlands. Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza have additionally struck a whole bunch, the latter’s off-spin accounting for eight wickets as nicely to spice up an assault spearheaded by left-arm fast Richard Ngarava.
Zimbabwe will relocate from Harare to Bulawayo for his or her video games towards Oman, Sri Lanka and Scotland, however the residence help stays of their favour. “It’s a different venue, and everything about it is different but still having that crowd behind us is always like having a 12th man,” mentioned Williams. Sri Lanka, world champions in 1996, eased by group play largely untroubled however face a Dutch aspect on Friday buoyed by their astonishing victory over the West Indies in an excellent over. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has bagged 18 wickets, emulating Pakistan nice Waqar Younis with three consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODIs. “He’s a champion. Whenever I throw him the ball, he delivers for me,” mentioned Sri Lanka Dasun Shanaka.
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West Indies close to ‘rock bottom’, Zimbabwe shines
While the longer term seems to be vivid for Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the West Indies are in dire straits after successive defeats to the hosts and the Netherlands. The fallen giants, who received the primary two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, realistically have to beat Scotland, Oman and Sri Lanka to face an opportunity of qualifying. “I understand the journey I have to take with this team,” mentioned coach Daren Sammy, who captained the West Indies to a pair of T20 World Cup titles. “Sometimes you’ve obtained to achieve all-time low to return again up. I perceive the challenges forward and I additionally perceive that issues is not going to change in a single day. “It’s a real reflection of the place our cricket is on the moment.
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We have plenty of work to do.” The Netherlands and Scotland will each begin on two factors. The Dutch haven’t featured on the finals since 2011 whereas the Scots missed out 4 years in the past after a controversial lbw determination. “We’re good enough to compete against the best teams in the world; we’re just getting better,” mentioned Logan van Beek, whose heroics in Monday’s tremendous over surprised the West Indies. “The more we play the best teams, the better we get. And the more fun we get, the more players we get, and we deserve to be on that level.” Rank outsiders Oman full the Super Six line-up for an occasion which concludes with the ultimate on July 9.
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© Agence France-Presse
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