Miller (5/20) helps the Windies defend 115 against the UAE
- Ireland beat Scotland in a last-ball thriller by two wickets; Zimbabwe overcome PNG by five wickets; rain affects Afghanistan v the Netherlands and Hong Kong v Nepal matches
- Photos from UAE v Windies; Ireland v Scotland; Zimbabwe v PNG and Netherlands v Afghanistan matches are available on theOnline Media Zonefor free download and editorial use
The spin and pace combination of Nikita Miller and Kemar Roach saved the Windies blushes in their ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 warm-up match against the United Arab Emirates when they bowled the two-time former world champions to a 32-run victory at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
The Windies were heading for an embarrassing defeat when they were spun out for 115 in 33.4 overs after being 31 for no loss at one stage, with wrist spinner Imran Haider claiming 4/16, off-spinner Rohan Mustafa bagging 2/10 and left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza snapping up 2/14.
However, left-arm spinner Miller and Roach turned the screws on the UAE batsmen and reduced them to 58/7 before rain stopped play. When the match resumed, the UAE innings lasted for another 7.1 overs as they were bowled out for 83 in 29 overs.
Miller finished with figures of 10-2-20-5, while Roach claimed 3/15. Off-spinner Ashley Nurse captured two of the last three wickets, to finish with 2/21.
Captain Rohan Mustafa (12), Shaiman Anawar (12) and Rameez Shahzad (11) were the only batsmen to reach double-figures as the result meant the UAE lost both their warm-up matches in the build-up to the event proper which will start on Sunday, 4 March.
For the Windies, the victory must have lifted their spirits, morale and confidence as they bid to qualify for next year’s World Cup, but a few questions remain unanswered from the batting perspective. On Tuesday, the Windies were bowled out by Afghanistan for 110 while chasing 140, and today they managed only 115.
With the likes of Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Marlon Samuels and Jason Mohammed in their ranks, they will need these proven performers to live up to their reputation and help the Windies take maximum carryover points into the Super Six stage.
Elsewhere, Ireland defeated Scotland by two wickets, while Zimbabwe carved out an easy five-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Hong Kong and Nepal match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a wet outfield, while the Netherlands and Afghanistan match was abandoned in the 18th over of the Netherlands' attempt to chase down a revised target of 202.
Ireland v Scotland
In a nail-bitter at the Queens Sports Club, Ireland defeated defending champions Scotland in a last-ball thriller by two wickets. Chasing 240 for victory, Ireland needed 24 off the last two overs and then eight off the final six deliveries, before George Dockrell hit a boundary off the final delivery after the scores had been tied.
Andrew McBrine had earlier led the Irish run-chase with a fluent 79 off 100 balls with four fours and a six, and featured in a 90-run fourth wicket partnership with Niall O’Brien (35).
The decisive innings, however, came from No.8 batsman George Dockrell and No.10 batsman Boyd Rankin, which turned the match in Ireland’s favour. Dockrell finished on 47 not out from 38 balls with three fours, while Rankin scored 12 off five balls. The two batsmen had joined hands with the score at 221/8, needing 19 off nine deliveries.
Earlier, Michael Leask hit almost a run-a-ball 91 to lift Scotland to 239 all out in 49.3 overs after the Scots were left reeling at 60/6 in the 17th over. Leask hit seven fours and two sixes, and added 156 runs for the seventh wicket with George Munsey, whose 77 came off 117 balls and included two fours and two sixes.
For Ireland, fast bowler Boyd Rankin bowled with considerable fire and venom to finish with impressive figures of 10-0-38-5. Tim Murtagh (3/42) and Barry McCarthy (2/54) offered good support to the tall fast bowler and allowed the defending champions to score only 60 runs in the last 10 overs.
Afghanistan v the Netherlands
Rain had the last laugh at the Old Hararians where Afghanistan and the Netherlands match was abandoned when it was shaping into an interesting game.
The Netherlands, chasing a revised target of 202 in 45 overs, were 86/1 in 17.3 overs when light showers left the outfield wet and soggy, leaving no option for the on-field umpires but to call off the match.
Play was stopped for the second and final time in the Netherlands’ innings at the fall of Wesley Barresi’s wicket who was caught at the wicket after scoring a 51-ball 38 with five fours. Maxwell O'Dowd remained not out on 38 from 55 balls.
Earlier, stand-in captain Rashid Khan struck six fours and three sixes in a 43-ball 63 to help his side recover from 38/5 to 216 all out in 49.5 overs. Rashid came out to bat with the score at 122/7 in the 40th over and helped his side collect 94 runs in the last 10 overs, including 21 runs off the final five deliveries bowled by Peter Borren.
Sharafuddin Ashraf (42) and Mohammad Nabi (32) were the other notable run-scorers as the two batsmen put on 70 runs for the sixth wicket.
Fast bowler Shane Snater was the pick of the Netherlands bowlers when he returned figures of 10-1-46-4. Left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe finished with 2/23.
Zimbabwe v PNG
Half-centuries by Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor helped hosts Zimbabwe beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) by five wickets at the Bulawayo Athletic Club.
Hamilton Masakadza scored 54 from 71 balls with four fours and two sixes, and Brendan Taylor struck three fours and two sixes before being retired out for 52 as the host nation achieved the 195-run target with more than nine overs to spare.
Opener Solomon Mire and captain Graeme Cremer also had good outings with the bat, scoring 36 and 22 not out.
Earlier in the day, PNG failed to finish on a high after a promising start when they were dismissed for 195 in 49.4 overs. They were 135/4 in the 38th over but managed only 60 runs in the next 12.2 overs for the loss of six wickets.
Opener Vani Morea was the top scorer with 58 (75b, 3x4, 2x6), while captain Assadollah Vala contributed 30 (59b, 1x4). For Zimbabwe, wickets were evenly shared between Sikandar Raza (2/20), Tendai Chisoro (2/22) and Blessing Muzarabani (2/22)
Scores in brief:
Ireland beat Scotland by two wickets, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Scotland 239 all out, 49.3 overs (Michael Leask 91, George Munsey 77, Calum MacLeod 29; Boyd Rankin 5/38, Tim Murtagh 3/42, Barry McCarthy 2/54)
Ireland 248-8, 50 overs (Andrew McBrine 79, George Dockrell 47 not out, Niall O'Brien 35; Gary Wilson 21; Chris Sole 2/53, Stuart Whittingham 2/26, Ali Evans 2/64)
Zimbabwe beat PNG by five wickets, Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo
PNG 195 all out, 49.4 overs (Vani Morea 58, Assadollah Vala 30, Jason Kila 19; Sikandar Raza 2/20, Tendai Chisoro 2/22, Blessing Muzarabani 2/22)
Zimbabwe 196-5, 40.3 overs (Hamilton Masakadza 54, Brendan Taylor 52 retired out, Solomon Mire 36)
Netherlands v Afghanistan, Old Hararians – match abandoned due to rain (target revised to 202 in 45 overs)
Afghanistan 216-9, 49.5 overs (Rashid Khan 63, Sharafuddin Ashraf 42, Mohammad Nabi 32, Dawlat Zadran 18; Shane Snater 4/46, Roelof van der Merwe 2/23)
The Netherlands 86-1, 17.3 overs (Wesley Barresi 38, Maxwell O'Dowd 38 not out)
The Windies beat the UAE by 32 runs, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Windies 115 all out, 33.4 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 20, Chris Gayle 16, Marlon Samuels 15, Evin Lewis 10; Imran Haider 4/16; Rohan Mustafa 2/10, Mohammad Naveed 2/27, Ahmed Raza 2/14)
UAE 83 all out, 29 overs (Nikita Miller 5/20, Kemar Roach 3/15, Ashley Nurse 2/21)
Hong Kong v Nepal, Kwekwe Sports Club – match abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a wet outfield