Zimbabwe’s Closer to World Cup with Oman Win
Zimbabwe kicked off the Super Six stage of the World Cup Qualifier with a thrilling 14-run victory over Oman on Thursday, thanks to Sean Williams’ exceptional performance, marking his third century in the tournament. The African side set a formidable target of 332-7 in their allotted 50 overs while batting first in Bulawayo. In a valiant pursuit, Oman fought bravely but fell just short, ending their innings at 318-9. With this triumph, Zimbabwe claimed the top spot on the table, adding to their previous wins over the West Indies and the Netherlands during the group stage. Reflecting on the match, Williams stated, “When I first saw the wicket, I thought 270 would be a very good score. Thankfully, everyone chipped in, and we managed to surpass that total.”
Zimbabwe is striving to qualify for the global one-day showpiece, seeking to make a comeback after an eight-year absence from the tournament. Having missed out on the 2019 edition in England and Wales, the team is determined to secure one of the top two positions in the Super Six standings, guaranteeing their place in the World Cup.
On the other hand, Oman’s hopes of reaching the main tournament in India from October 5 to November 19 are rapidly diminishing. Starting the match with zero points in the Super Six, they fought gallantly against Zimbabwe, nearly pulling off an incredible victory. Opener Kashyap Prajapati played a scintillating knock of 103 runs off just 97 balls, keeping Oman within touching distance of the target. Blessing Muzarabani’s exceptional bowling performance, claiming three wickets, seemed to have Zimbabwe on the verge of victory, supported by remarkable fielding, exemplified by Luke Jongwe’s acrobatic catch on the boundary as he juggled the ball while repeatedly hopping over the rope.
However, Oman’s lower-order batsmen launched a late onslaught, reducing the required runs to a manageable 39 from the final 17 balls. The dismissal of Fayyaz Butt, trapped lbw by Tendai Chatara, provided a glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe. Captain Zeeshan Maqsood, who had earlier retired injured, courageously returned to the crease to join Mohammad Nadeem. In a nail-biting finish, Richard Ngarava’s penultimate over conceded just two runs and a bye, leaving Oman with an insurmountable task. As Maqsood fell to Chatara on the final delivery, Nadeem remained unbeaten on 30 runs from 18 balls. Muzarabani concluded with figures of 3-57 from nine overs, while Chatara claimed 3-73 from eight overs.
In the earlier innings, Sean Williams played an exceptional knock, scoring a magnificent 142 runs off just 103 deliveries. His innings was filled with 14 boundaries and three towering sixes, providing the backbone for Zimbabwe’s imposing total. Sikandar Raza contributed a valuable 42 runs, while Luke Jongwe provided late impetus with a rapid unbeaten knock of 43 runs from just 28 balls.
Depending on the outcomes of other matches, Zimbabwe could secure their ticket to India when they face Sri Lanka on Sunday. Meanwhile, Oman will continue their quest for victory in their upcoming match against the Netherlands, scheduled for the following day.
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