Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Thanks for your presence, folks. It's time for me, Rvel Zahid, to say goodbye on behalf of Madushka Balasuriya and our scoring master Sudeep Poojar

The perfect concoction for success: Raza, Williams and Ervine joined forces to feast on runs and went berserk against the hapless Netherlands' bowlers who were simply outgunned and in fact, bullied towards the end. They couldn't puncture Zimbabwe at regular intervals after posting a decent total on the board and were out of sorts with the ball. Raza mesmerized us with his power-hitting and proved to be the main protagonist of today's win with his allround heroics and his fireworks towards the end of the run-chase thoroughly entertained the crowd! I got goosebumps while watching the blitzkrieg in the last 10 overs or so from the quintessential all-rounder who has a knack for inspiring his team to do incredible stuff. The star of the show also became first Zimbabwe player with a century and a four-fer in the same ODI

Sikandar Raza, Player of the Match: "Listen as much as I am smiling, but the job is not done yet. We back ourselves, we had Pakistan A for six games and we chased 300 plus. I just wanted to go out there, the platform was already set, I just wanted to stay humble, and respect every ball but it was there, I went for it. As long as we win the game, we are happy and we are happy for each other's performance and support each other. Thankful for the wonderful support."

Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe Captain: "We were not particularly great with the ball again, but credit to Williams and Raza the way they just pretty much cantered through. The ball striking from them was phenomenal. It was a little bit of a tricky start but was a really good wicket. Once you get going, it is difficult to restrict. We wanted to restrict them to 290 to 300, but we finished the innings well. We were still happy with 315. It's tricky having so many options. Some times it makes it harder to make the decision. Raza bowled exceptionally well and our spinners have been the key for us in the middle overs."

Scott Edwards, Netherlands Captain: I thought we had ourselves in the game at 315. That is definitely enough to win the game but it's a good wicket. We dropped catches...they batted well. The conditions were different to what they were when we played here a couple of months ago. It was pretty good throughout the game. We had to bowl and field better. Raza is a serious batter. If their batters in the top order get going, they can be dangerous. We did not bowl our best and they capitalized. These tournaments come quick and fast, got to put (the loss) behind you. We have some positives (from this game). It's a long tournament."

Focus Reign: "Good win for Zimbabwe, but still their bowling and fielding performance is poor, they need to work on this. Netherlands not a bad team, but what a porous fielding "

Krishna: "Has to be one of the best all-round performances in ODI cricket. 4 wickets and a superfast century for Raza."

Syed: "hatsssssssss of to Mr. Raza the wall of ZIM Cricket pure talent good to see him batting in this aggression,"

Tsikire: "Brutal by Raza. At this rate I am sure if the target was 500 we could have easily surpassed it. Congratulations the Chevrons "

Ningen: "The crowd the the HSC is brilliant as usual....we deserve to make it to the world cup this time...counting on you Sikander!!" I couldn't agree more with you, it's stonking out there in the aisles and that adds to the festive vibe, makes cricket more fun for sure

40.5
6
van Beek to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Employs a classical shot to finish the game in style and thumps the fastest-ever century by any Zimbabwe cricketer in ODIs! Overpitched on off, lifts it over mid-off and it's soaring high into the air, up and up, and eventually coming down in the stands. Incredible batting display from the man, the myth, the legend - Sikandar Raza
40.4
2
van Beek to Sikandar Raza, 2 runs, Jumps to the leg side and maneuvers the ball down to backward square and will come back for the second run
40.3
6
van Beek to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Just frame that! Short on shoulder height, clears his front leg and swings with vigour into the crowd for six, goes several rows back of deep fine leg
40.2
1
van Beek to Burl, 1 run, Pace off the ball, cutter slammed into the pitch on middle, guides it off the backfoot to backward square
40.1
0
van Beek to Burl, no run, Back of a length, slanting across off, gets behind the line and blocks it doggedly off the backfoot

END OF OVER:
40 | 5 Runs | ZIM: 304/4 (12 runs required from 60 balls, RR: 7.60, RRR: 1.20)

  • Sikandar Raza88 (51b)
  • Ryan Burl15 (17b)
  • Clayton Floyd7-0-42-0
  • Shariz Ahmad6-0-62-2
39.6
2
Floyd to Sikandar Raza, 2 runs, Zips it in quicker outside off, firmly clattered along the carpet to the sweeper
39.5
1
Floyd to Burl, 1 run, Goes back and works it off his pads to backward square for a run
39.4
1
Floyd to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, What have you done O'Dowd? Shells an absolute dolly at cover, bat turned in his hand and he miscued the skier
39.3
0
Floyd to Sikandar Raza, no run, Big shout for a caught behind, only the keeper looked interested. Tossed up, fuller length on sixth stump line, cannot get underneath that one
39.2
0
Floyd to Sikandar Raza, no run, Loopy delivery on a shorter length from round the wicket, wide of off as he tried to whip it across the line, the ball kept turning away
39.1
1
Floyd to Burl, 1 run, Gently tucked away to the midwicket and 300 is up on the board, mere formalities left for Zimbabwe

END OF OVER:
39 | 19 Runs | ZIM: 299/4 (17 runs required from 11 overs, RR: 7.66, RRR: 1.54)

  • Sikandar Raza85 (47b)
  • Ryan Burl13 (15b)
  • Shariz Ahmad6-0-62-2
  • Aryan Dutt9-1-61-0
38.6
0
Shariz Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, no run, That's quite anticlimactic, tossed up quicker outside off, defended into the covers
38.5
6
Shariz Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Are you kidding me? Once again in his slot and he slaughters it over extra cover for a flat six! Brutal treatment for Shariz continues. Could there be a better over than this for Zimbabwe?
38.4
6
Shariz Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, In the arc, and out of the park! Pitched up and mauled over the bowler's head for six, hits the sightscreen. Magnificent hitting from Raza, you beauty!
38.3
6
Shariz Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Slog swept into oblivion! That was belted right out of the screws and went miles up in the air, got down low to it and went for the aerial route over midwicket. Coruscating strokeplay contiues!
38.2
0
Shariz Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, no run, Hoys it on a fuller length on middle, squeezed out to the off side
38.1
1
Shariz Ahmad to Burl, 1 run, Tossed up on a shorter length outside off, not gripping and turning much, he shimmies across and paddles it behind square on the leg side

END OF OVER:
38 | 11 Runs | ZIM: 280/4 (36 runs required from 12 overs, RR: 7.36, RRR: 3.00)

  • Sikandar Raza67 (42b)
  • Ryan Burl12 (14b)
  • Aryan Dutt9-1-61-0
  • Bas de Leede6-0-51-1
37.6
6
Dutt to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Flexes his muscles and launches it! That's vintage Raza, stand and deliver smack over mid-off for a six, clears the boundary rope with ease. Took a step back and absolutely butchered it
37.5
2
Dutt to Sikandar Raza, 2 runs, Backs away and whisks it away to deep backward point
37.4
1
Dutt to Burl, 1 run, Presses it down to wide long-off and they are dealing in singles at the moment, being very clinical with the task at hand
37.3
1
Dutt to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, Powerfully swept along the floor to backward square, there is protection in the deep
37.2
0
Dutt to Sikandar Raza, no run, Lobbed up on length and it straightens after pitching on middle, patted back to the bowler
37.1
1
Dutt to Burl, 1 run, Tossed up, floating like a dandelion seed on a length and drifts back into middle and leg, clipped to the leg side and they jog through a run

END OF OVER:
37 | 13 Runs | ZIM: 269/4 (47 runs required from 13 overs, RR: 7.27, RRR: 3.61)

  • Sikandar Raza58 (38b)
  • Ryan Burl10 (12b)
  • Bas de Leede6-0-51-1
  • Aryan Dutt8-1-50-0
36.6
4
de Leede to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, Deft touch! Risk free cricket earns him another boundary, 13 off the over as Raza stays back in his crease, opens the face of the blade ever so slightly and guides it to the third man boundary, evades the fielder at short third as crowd erupts in ecstasy
36.5
1
de Leede to Burl, 1 run, Slow ball tennis ball bouncer on middle and leg, he slinks back and pulls it away softly to deep fine leg region

Zimbabwe 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st80CR ErvineJ Gumbie
2nd62SC WilliamsJ Gumbie
3rd20SC WilliamsW Madhevere
4th84SC WilliamsSikandar Raza
5th73Sikandar RazaRP Burl

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier

Super Six
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL33060.91
NED32140.662
SCOT32140.215
WI3122-0.091
ZIM3122-0.748
OMA3030-1.087
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
ZIM44082.241
NED43160.669
WI42240.525
NEP4132-1.171
USA4040-2.164
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL44083.047
SCOT43160.54
OMA4224-1.221
IRE4132-0.061
UAE4040-2.249