Zimbabwe crushed the powerhouse West Indies in a crucial game of group B in ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 on Saturday (24th June) at Harare.

West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first. Zimbabwe had a fine start despite being put into bat first. Their openers J Gumbie and Craig Ervine made 63 runs together. Both of them perished scoring 26 and 47 respectively. Wesley Madhevere had a off day as he went back to the pavilion scoring only 2 off 8. Experienced Sean Williams too threw his wicket away after getting a good start.

The marquee all rounder of Zimbabwe Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl took the charge and added 87 runs together at 5th wicket partnership. Burl departed scoring a fine 50 off 57 as he was trapped infront of his pads off Akeal Hossain. While his partner Raza made a serious 68 off 58 knock.

There had been a 30 run partnership at the last wicket and Zimbabwe accumulated 268 after alloted 50 overs. Keemo Paul was the pick of the bowlers from WI as he picked up 3 wickets. Akeal Hossain and Alzarri Joseph got two apiece.

Chasing 269, WI openers added 43 runs before their gun opener Brandon King perished off Blessing Muzarabani. Experienced Johnson Charles too couldn’t do anything as he made only 1 at number 3. Skipper Shai Hope scored 30 before Raza uprooted his stumps and WI fell into a deep trouble. Nicholas Pooran and Roston Chase started to take on Zimbabwe but the storm didn't last long as Ngarava trapped Pooran for LBW. While the new batter Rovman Powell too got his pads trapped off Muzarabani and WI fell into a deep sea in the run chase.

The last hope Holder and Chase were still in the crease for WI but Holder didn't last long as on fire Chatara got Holder with a toe crushing yorker. After the departure of Holder, Chase too perished and WI lost the plot. And eventually they lost the match by 35 runs and Zimbabwe went to the top of the table of group B.