Sikandar Raza’s exceptional all-round performance proved pivotal as Zimbabwe clinched a resounding six-wicket victory over the Netherlands in their Cricket World Cup Group A qualifier on Tuesday.

After displaying his prowess with the ball by securing four Dutch wickets, Raza further showcased his talent with the bat, hammering an entertaining unbeaten century off a mere 54 deliveries. This remarkable feat not only earned him accolades but also etched his name as the Zimbabwean player with the fastest hundred in one-day internationals (ODIs).

Batting first, the Netherlands set a formidable target of 315 for six wickets, with Vikramjit Singh contributing 88 runs, skipper Scott Edwards adding 83, and Max O’Dowd scoring 59. Saqib Zulfiqar’s unbeaten 34 off 34 balls further bolstered their total within the allotted 50 overs at Harare Sports Club.

Raza emerged as the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 55 runs in his ten overs. Zimbabwe’s run chase appeared comfortable throughout, thanks to Sean Williams’ rapid 91 off 58 balls, supported by the contributions of openers Craig Ervine (50 runs) and Joylord Gumbie (40 runs).

Ultimately, it was Raza who sealed the victory in style, smashing a winning six over mid-off, clearing the boundary with a strike of immense power. His display of aggressive batting included three consecutive sixes off Shariz Ahmad.

“I just wanted to go out there,” expressed the 37-year-old Pakistani-born all-rounder, who secured the win with a significant 55 balls remaining. “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.”

In another Group A match, Nepal, who suffered an opening defeat to Zimbabwe, triumphed over the United States by six wickets. Shayan Jahangir, born in Karachi and serving as wicketkeeper, played a crucial role with an unbeaten century, helping the US team reach a total of 207 all out off 49 overs after recovering from a precarious 18 for four wickets. Sushant Modani (42) and Gajanand Singh (26) made notable contributions, but the remaining batsmen struggled, with only two reaching double digits. Karan Khatri Chhetri and Gulsan Jha combined to claim seven wickets for Nepal.

Nepal comfortably chased down the target, with Bhim Sharki’s unbeaten 77 and contributions of 39 runs each from Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee. They secured victory with 42 balls to spare, ending at 211 for four wickets.

The United States suffered their second defeat after previously losing to the West Indies in their opening game.

The tournament continues on Wednesday with Group B matches featuring Ireland against Scotland and Oman taking on the United Arab Emirates in Bulawayo.

Only two out of the ten participating teams in this three-week qualifier will secure a spot in the World Cup, scheduled to be held in India in October and November.

The last time Hasaranga was at the top of the bowling rankings was in November 2021; he finished the previous calendar year as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the format. The Zimbabwe duo of Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza made gains among T20I allrounders. While Raza switched places with Moeen Ali – now sixth – to move to No. 4, and Williams entered the top ten in ninth place.

While Williams has 395 runs along with ten wickets this year, Raza has had a memorable 2022 across formats for Zimbabwe, and with 735 runs, he is currently the third-highest run-getter in the world in T20Is. Raza has also picked up 25 wickets in T20Is this year, including 4 for 8 against the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifier game. He got 3 for 19 against West Indies in the first round of the World Cup, before a haul of 3 for 25 helped Zimbabwe edge past Pakistan in the Super 12s.

In other vital movements across tables, Adil Rashid moved up to No. 8 among T20I bowlers, and Pathum Nissanka moved up to be the tenth-ranked batter after 214 runs – including two half-centuries – at the World Cup.

Batting first in the second ODI, Bangladesh was off to a blistering start but Raza’s 3 for 56 with the ball restricted the visitors to 290 for 9 after knocks from Mahmudullah (80 not out) and skipper Tamim Iqbal (50) at the Harare Sporting Club on Sunday.
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a rocky start as Hasan Mahmud (2-47), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (2-50), and Taijul Islam (1-48) reduced them to 49 for four in 15 overs.

Mahmud had both Takudzwanashe Kaitano (0) and Innocent Kaia (7) caught behind within the first three overs. Wessely Madhevere (2) fell lbw to Miraz before Taijul took out opener Tadiwanashe Marumani (25) for a catch in the covers.
Having led Zimbabwe to win in the first ODI, Raza (117 not out) stepped up again and paired with Chakabva (102 off 75 balls) in another recovery stand.

After digging in, the pair gradually got into the groove as Raza hardly allowed the Bangladesh bowlers to settle despite the required rate hovering around 7.50 as early as in the 24th over.After clubbing Mahmud for a six and a four in the 20th over to breathe life into the Eagles’ chase, the pair went after Shoriful Islam in the 25th over and smashed three boundaries.

As Bangladesh made a mess out of a run-out opportunity with Raza short of the crease at the non-striker’s end, Zimbabwe fans began to believe and kept cheering the batters with every strike of the willow.The pair followed up the reprieve by hitting three sixes in the next three overs before Chakabva brought the crowd to their feet when he smashed Taskin Ahmed for four fours in a row in the 30th over.
Both the batsmen reached their centuries in the 43rd over. Raza reached his second successive ton with his umpteenth brace before Chakabva launched Mahmud over midwicket to etch the fastest century by a Zimbabwe batsman, off 73 balls.

It was Zimbabwe’s third 200-plus partnership and Raza was now involved in two of them after Friday’s heroics. Chakabva fell to Miraz with Zimbabwe 41 runs away, but Raza kept his foot on the grass.

However, Bangladesh plummeted to a blundering finish, dropping Tony Munyonga (30 not out) twice in the same over off Taskin before Zimbabwe blazed to the win with 15 balls in hand to grab an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Earlier, Tamim and Anamul Haque (20) breezed to 71 in 11 overs as the skipper looked in supreme touch to smash 10 fours and a six in a 45-ball half-century.
His timing was impeccable particularly square of the wicket but he also scored a lot of runs straight down the ground. But Tanaka Chivanga (1-49) earned his scalp when the batsman was pouched at square leg.After Tamim’s departure slowed the Tigers down, Mushfiqur Rahim (25) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (38) stitched up 50 runs for the third wicket, yet the run rate hovered around 5.5.

After Madhevere sent both of them packing, Mahmudullah showed intent and picked up the pace with Afif Hossain, who scored a run-a-ball 41. But with not too much batting to follow, they avoided taking too many risks. Mahmudullah played into his experience and bludgeoned three sixes in the last four overs as Bangladesh cropped up 84 runs in their last 10.

Zimbabwe’s offspinners snared five important wickets. Raza’s three was complemented by Madhevere’s 2 for 40. Victor Nyauchi and Tanaka Chivanga bowled well too. The Tigers will look to retrieve some respect in their third ODI fixture of the series on Wednesday.