Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran hit centuries to propel the West Indies to a convincing 101-run win over Nepal on the World Cup Qualifier in Harare on Thursday.
Hope scored 132 whereas Pooran made a brisk 115 because the pair placed on 216 for the fourth wicket to assist the two-time champions publish 339-7 after a foul begin to the innings.
Kyle Mayers fell for only one and Johnson Charles was out for nought because the West Indies slumped to 9-2. Opener Brandon King made 32 earlier than he was bowled by leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.
“We were put on the back foot there,” stated Hope.
“The key was absorbing as much pressure as possible and then find a way to transfer that pressure in the back end.
“Pooran made it a lot easier for me. The aim was to take it as deep as possible give us the best chance towards the end.”
Hope and Pooran joined forces within the sixteenth over and took the sport away from Nepal, who was left to rue a dropped catch off Pooran early in his innings.
Wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh put down a Pooran edge off left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi when the batter was on simply three.
With Hope ticking alongside at a extra sedate tempo, Pooran took on the function of aggressor earlier than each gamers reached their a whole bunch within the fortieth over.
Hope accomplished his fifteenth ODI ton off 107 balls earlier than Pooran carved Gulsan Jha to the boundary a number of deliveries later to convey up his second one-day century off 81 balls – 4 years after his first.
Dipendra Singh Airee ultimately eliminated Pooran for 115 with a terrific catch off his personal bowling however Rovman Powell saved the runs flowing with a quick-fire 29 alongside Jason Holder’s 16 not out.
Hope holed out to long-off within the closing over for 132 and Keemo Paul was bowled off the final ball as Rajbanshi completed with three for 52.
Nepal’s chase started poorly with Alzarri Joseph uprooting Kushal Bhurtel’s off stump within the second over. Bhim Sharki quickly adopted when he was caught behind off Holder attempting a scoop shot.
Several Nepali batters made respectable begins however solely Aarif Sheikh handed fifty, reaching 63 earlier than falling to a shocking Pooran catch within the deep as his workforce was bowled out for 238.
Holder took 3-34 for the West Indies with Joseph, Paul and Akeal Hosein all selecting up two wickets.
West Indies has gained its first two matches and moved above event hosts Zimbabwe on web run price on the high of Group A. The two nations meet of their subsequent match on Saturday.
In Thursday’s different recreation, the Netherlands bounced again from a gap loss to Zimbabwe by condemning the United States to a 3rd straight defeat.
Shayan Jahangir top-scored with 71 because the USA scrapped its solution to 211-8, however Dutch captain Scott Edwards led his workforce to a five-wicket victory with an unbeaten 67 after Teja Nidamanuru steadied the innings along with his 58.
The USA is eradicated from rivalry whereas the Netherlands and Nepal face off Saturday in a contest that can seemingly decide which workforce advances to the Super Six stage.
The qualifiers proceed on Friday with shock Group B leaders Oman looking a 3rd successive win in opposition to Sri Lanka in Bulawayo, whereas Scotland play the United Arab Emirates.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com