T20 World Cup Qualifier B Wrap: Day 1
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Match 1: Zimbabwe v Singapore;
Zimbabwe won by 111 runs
Toss: Singapore chose to bowl
A decision to send Zimbabwe in to bat first proved to be costly for Singapore as the hosts put on a mammoth total in the first game of the Qualifier B. Regis Chakabva and Craig Ervine helped Zimbabwe off to a great start with the fifty partnership coming in the fourth over. Singapore fought back by dismissing Chakabva and Ervine soon after and Wesley Madhevere returned back early for 2. However, the visitors failed to apply pressure and the experienced duo of Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza regrouped and unleashed a volley of sixes. Their century stand powered Zimbabwe to a massive 236/5.
#1stMatch: 🇿🇼 set Singapore 2⃣3⃣7⃣ runs to win from 20 overs#T20WCQualifier | #T20WorldCup | #VisitZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/RDz93Sxw1j
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) July 11, 2022
In reply, Singapore struggled to get going, losing their first wicket in the second over. Tendai Chatara then removed Surendran Chandramohan and Aman Desai in the space of four deliveries to leave them stuttering at 32/3. There were a couple of brief partnerships but with a big target to scale, the pressure kept mounting on Singapore. The required run-rate had gone well past 30 in last few overs and all the Zimbabwe bowlers had to ensure that they kept the run flow in check.
In the end, Zimbabwe restricted Singapore to 125/7, securing a big 111-run win.
Match 2: Jersey v USA;
USA won by eight wickets
Toss: USA opted to bowl
Jersey's start was a slow one with the USA bowlers controlling the scoring rate in the initial overs. Three wickets fell in the first 10 overs with the score of just 47. No.3 batter Asa Tribe was the lone warrior for Jersey and his fiery knock powered them to a respectable total. Taking advantage of the bad balls, Tribe dispatched as many as seven boundaries over the rope and brought up a brilliant half-century. He remained not out on 73 off 45 as Jersey posted 154/5 in their 20 overs. Juan Theron and Nisarg Patel took two wickets apiece for USA.
Half-way stage of game number 1 at the #T20WorldCup in Bulawayo and USA require 155 to win vs Jersey
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) July 11, 2022
Two wickets for Theron and Patel but real concern with a nasty blow to Ali Khan, we will update when we can.
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For the most part, USA's chase was a pretty straightforward affair. A modest target of 155 was no match for their batting firepower. Despite losing their captain Monank Patel in the seventh over, the pair of Steven Taylor and Aaron Jones put up an 88-run second-wicket stand. Taylor was the aggressor in the partnership as Jones dropped the anchor at the other end. When the second wicket finally fell in the 17th over, USA were just 25 runs away from victory.
Taylor scored an unbeaten 101 as they registered an eight-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.
Match 3: Netherlands v Papua New Guinea;
Netherlands win by 52 runs
Toss: Netherlands chose to bat
Opting to bat first, Netherlands had a brilliant opening partnership of 78 between Max O'Dowd and Stephan Myburgh. PNG though clawed things back with some brilliant bowling in the middle overs. Assad Vala's men got three wickets in relatively quick succession, including the set openers which stunted Netherlands' scoring rate. Bas de Leede (33) and Logan van Beek (19*) would chip in some valuable runs to help their side to 163/7. For PNG, it was a collective bowling effort, with Sema Kamea and Charles Amini both scalping two wickets each.
A winning start for Netherlands in the #T20WorldCup Qualifier B 🎉
— ICC (@ICC) July 11, 2022
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Netherlands would defend the score expertly, never allowing PNG to settle in. PNG were also let down by the abilities of their batters to convert small starts into big scores. Only Charles Amini (21) and Sese Bau (35) made any significant contributions. For the Dutch, Logan van Beek picked up 3 wickets while Bas de Leede and Frederick Klaassen would pick up 2 wickets each.
It would be a comfortable victory for Netherlands, who bowled out PNG for 11 to win by 52 runs
Match 4: Hong Kong v Uganda;
Uganda win by 2 wickets
Toss: Hong Kong chose to bat
In Bulawayo, Hong Kong's decision to bat did not yield them the exact total which they had hoped for. Right from the very off, Uganda kept them in check by stifling the scoring rate as well as taking regular wickets. Hong Kong would lose three wickets within the first 10 overs and there would be a procession starting from the 15th over. This did not help their cause one bit as they could only register a score of 87/9 in 20 overs. Only Kinchit Shah (37) and Zeeshan Ali (11) managed to get into the double figures. For Uganda, Dineshshkumar Nakrani was the star of the show, registering figures of 4/12.
Uganda win a thriller in the #T20WorldCup Qualifier B 🔥
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) July 11, 2022
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The match would turn out to be an absolute thriller, going down to the wire. Uganda too would lose wickets in regular intervals, with the match going to the final over. Mohammad Aizaz Khan would do the damage for Hong Kong, scalping three Uganda wickets. But Riazat Ali Shah would play a pivotal knock of 28* for Uganda, helping them get over the line. Ronak Patel (15) and Dineshkumar Nakrani (11), also chipped in with some valuable runs.
In the end, Uganda would chase the total down, with two wickets in hand in the final over.
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