A positive campaign from Raza and Zim Team

Zimbabwe as the hosts made a strong start to their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 preparations after beating Oman on the first day of warm-up matches.

There were also wins for Ireland, West Indies, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Sri Lanka, as teams adjust to the conditions in Harare and Bulawayo.

Harry Tector produced the highest score of the day with 149 not out as Ireland chased down 312 against the United States of America (USA), while spin twins Yannic Cariah and Roston Chase bowled West Indies to victory over Scotland.

Zimbabwe also defeated Oman by 28 runs as Sikandar Raza starred with bat and ball while the UAE beat Nepal off the penultimate ball of their encounter.

Tector’s unbeaten century powers Ireland to win four scores above 40 and helped the USA to 312 for six after they were put into bat by Ireland in Bulawayo, with Aaron Jones top scoring with 89.

Jones combined with captain Monank Patel for a 125-run partnership after being set up by a 65-run opening stand from Steven Taylor and Sushant Modani.

Jones pushed for a century alongside Saiteja Mukkamalla but was dismissed leg before wicket (LBW) for 89 from 87 balls by Andy McBrine, while Mukkamalla ended on 44 not out.

In response, Ireland faltered at seven for two before Paul Stirling made 55 off 53 balls to steady the ship, as his side reached the halfway mark of their innings just behind the run rate at 154 for three.

Stirling handed the run-scoring baton to Tector who blasted 149 runs from 123 balls to steer Ireland home with 10 fours and seven sixes.

Raza’s all-round ability was on show in the win over Oman. Zimbabwe made a fine start in Harare as Raza hit an unbeaten century, retiring at 109 from 66 balls having come in at 111 for three. The all-rounder put on 136 with Ryan Burl, who fell to Bilal Khan two overs after Raza retired, as Zimbabwe posted 367 for six from their 50 overs.

In response, Aqib Ilyas scored a century having come in to bat with Oman at 18 for two, and was dismissed for 113, with his side needing 132 runs from 91 balls for an improbable victory.

Ayaan Khan batted bravely to make 92 from 75 but his dismissal, one of three for Raza, saw Oman fall behind the run rate and they were eventually bowled out for 339.

Spin sees West Indies to a comfortable win over Scotland. Therefore, in Harare, Scotland started brightly against West Indies, with Chris Sole taking the first three wickets to reduce the two-time champions to 28 for three after six overs.

Captain Shai Hope made 57 as he rallied his side before becoming the first of Chris Greaves’ three wickets.

Jack Jarvis mopped up the Windies’ tail despite Romario Shepherd’s quickfire 57 from 46 balls, as Daren Sammy’s charges were dismissed for 264 with eight balls of their innings remaining.

In reply, Scotland stuttered with no batter able to get past 40, as Brandon McMullen top-scored with 38 from 57 balls.

The middle order made only 15 runs between them as Cariah took four for 46, with Chase contributing three wickets for 43 to dismiss Scotland for 173 inside 36 overs.

UAE leave it late to beat Nepal

Aasif Sheikh continued his strong ODI form year to anchor Nepal’s 276 in an enthralling battle with UAE.

Aasif, who scored his maiden ODI century earlier this year, had compiled 52 from 78 at the halfway stage and then watched as his older brother Aarif and Kushal Malla kept Nepal’s positive scoring going.

UAE’s chase was anchored by Rohan Mustafa, who come in after the loss of the fourth wicket and compiled a battling half-century.

The left-hander was in the middle for the final over, which saw two wickets fall as Nepal did all they could to eke out the win. However, UAE snatched victory off the penultimate ball of the innings.

Sri Lanka proves too much for the Netherlands.

In Bulawayo, two strong middle-order partnerships helped the Netherlands rebuild having slipped to 28 for four inside nine overs.

Kasun Rajitha clean-bowled opener Max O’Dowd for the first of his three wickets, while the dangerous right-arm seamer later dismissed the dangerous Saqib Zulfiqar for 56 runs to stem the Netherlands’ charge.

They were all out for 214 and Sri Lanka chased down that total inside 38 overs, with Dasun Shanaka top scoring with 67 not out from 52 balls, having been well set up by opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s 46 from 55 balls.

Ireland beat the USA at Athletic Club, Bulawayo by five wickets. USA 312/6 in 50 overs (Aaron Jones 89, Monank Patel 77; Ben White 2/56, Graham Hume 1/26). Ireland 315/5 in 45.1 overs (Harry Tector 149 not out, Lorcan Tucker 68; Saurabh Netravalkar 1/25, Steven Taylor 1/42). Zimbabwe beat Oman at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare by 28 runs. Zimbabwe 367/6 in 50 overs (Sikandar Raza 109 not out, Ryan Burl 65; Fayyaz Butt 2/38, Bilal Khan 2/60). Oman 339 all out in 49.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 113, Ayaan Khan 92; Sikandar Raza 3/42, Brad Evans 3/47). West Indies beat Scotland at Harare Sports Club, Harare by 91 runs.

West Indies 264 all out in 48.4 overs (Shai Hope 57, Romario Shepherd 53; Chris Sole 4/50, Jack Jarvis 3/25). Scotland 171 all out in 35.3 overs (Brandon McMullen 38, Matthew Cross 35; Yannic Cariah 4/46, Royston Chase 3/43). Sri Lanka beat the Netherlands at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo by three wickets.
Netherlands 214 all out in 45.3 overs (Saqib Zulfiqar 56, Teja Nidamanuru 41; Kasun Rajitha 3/19, Dhananjaya de Silva 2/19). Sri Lanka 215/7 in 37.1 overs (Dasun Shanaka 67 not out, Dimuth Karunaratne 46; Clayton Floyd 2/40; Aryan Dutt 1/30). UAE beat Nepal at Old Hararians, Harare by three wickets. Nepal 277 all out in 49.5 overs. UAE 278 for 7 in 49.5 overs.