Zimbabwe defeats Scotland by 5 wickets to secure a spot in the Super 12s.
Craig Ervine’s half-century and Sikandar Raza’s blistering 40-run cameo helped Zimbabwe defeat Scotland by five wickets to book their place in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup here at Bellerive Oval on Friday. Zimbabwe has qualified for the Super 12 stage in the tournament’s history for the first time.
Chasing Target
Zimbabwe, chasing a meager 133-run target, got off to the worst possible start, losing opener Regis Chakabva in the first over. In the next over, Scotland dealt Zimbabwe another blow when Josh Davey dismissed Wesley Madhevere for zero runs.
Captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams attempted to play some big shots to relieve some of the team’s pressure and took the team’s total past 40 runs in under 8 overs. Zimbabwe’s momentum was halted. However, when Michael Leask dismissed Williams after scoring 7 runs in 12 deliveries.
Williams’ dismissal brought the team’s star batter, Sikandar Raza, to the crease. Zimbabwe needed 78 runs after 10 overs. Raza shifted gears and slammed boundaries at regular intervals to keep his team’s momentum going.
Raza hammered Michael Leask for 13 runs in the 14th over of the game, reducing the winnings equation to 37 runs in 35 balls. Craig Ervine delivered 48 deliveries to reach his much-needed half-century.
Raza’s blistering batting performance came to an end. When Josh Davey delivered a stunning bowl to dismiss. The Zimbabwe batters for 40 runs on 23 balls. Scotland dealt Zimbabwe a major blow when Mark Watt bowled a well-established batsman. Ervine for 58 off 54 balls, turning the game on its head.
Ryan Burl then approached the crease. Zimbabwe needed 6 runs in the final two overs to qualify for the Super 12 stage.
Milton Shumba and Burl took two singles in the 18th over of the innings, and on the third delivery of the over, Burl smashed a beautiful four to send his team to the Super 12 stage with a 5-wicket win over Scotland.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s bowlers delivered a thoroughly experienced performance in the final group stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Hobart on Friday, limiting Scotland to a meager total of 132/6.
Zimbabwe qualified for the Super 12 stage in the T20 World Cup’s history for the first time.
Richie Berrington’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired for Scotland. They lost Michael Jones and Matthew Cross early in the innings.
George Munsey, Berrington, and Calum MacLeod all tried their hardest to save the innings. Munsey and Berrington combined for a 40-run partnership stand, which was followed by a 34-run stand between MacLeod and Munsey. However, the collaborations did not come quickly.