CWC Qualifier warm-ups: What we learned

Two rounds of warm-up matches have given the 10 teams at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 in Zimbabwe a taste of what to expect. Here’s looking at where they stand ahead of the competition, which begins on 4 March.

Competition keenly poised

If Ireland’s thrilling last-ball win over Scotland at Queens Sports Club is any indication, the competition in this tournament is going to be fierce and heart rates will be high. Ireland’s lower order led the charge to the finish, knocking off the 24 they need in the last two overs, with a last-ball four from George Dockrell wrapping up the two-wicket win.

In fact, in the seven completed warm-ups, there were seven different winners. The non-Test nations have held their own and shown streaks of competitiveness. The United Arab Emirates gave Windies a proper scare, while Papua New Guinea were doing well at 102/1 before a collapse saw them fold for less than 200 against Zimbabwe.

Rain has a say

It’s been raining in Zimbabwe, with Harare especially affected. Two warm-up games were washed out without a ball bowled, while one had to be abandoned. Three matches were decided by the DLS method and the teams will be hoping the skies clear up when things get more serious.

The dampness makes it trickier on surfaces that have been on the slower side in recent years. Spin is expected to play a role in Zimbabwe, and the success of Nikita Miller (Windies) and Imran Haider (UAE), among several others, has proved as much. At the same time, pacers such as Boyd Rankin, Paul van Meekeren and Kemar Roach have adjusted well to the conditions to be impact players.

Batting concerns for frontrunners

Jason Holder’s men are yet to hit their straps with the bat. In the first warm-up against Afghanistan, they were bowled out for 110 in a rain-hit match. Then, against UAE, they could make no more than 115, lasting just 33.4 overs.

Afghanistan themselves have work to do too. They were 71/8 against Windies, and 38/5 against the Netherlands before the lower order propped them up.

The rain hasn’t helped matters in Harare, and Ireland’s 243/8 in chasing Scotland’s 239 in Bulawayo was the highest team total in the warm-ups.

Top performers

Nikita Miller: The Windies left-arm spinner took 5/20 to prevent an upset against UAE. Bundled by the UAE spinners for just 115, Windies fought back through Miller and restricted the opposition to 83 for a 32-run win.

Michael Leask: Scotland’s all-rounder rescued his side from a perilous 60/6 in the 17th over to a respectable 239 against Ireland. His brisk 94-ball 91 included seven fours and two sixes. Scotland will hope his off-spin is as effective once the group stage begins.

Rashid Khan: No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for bowlers, the Afghanistan youngster will add another feather to an increasingly well-adorned cap by becoming the youngest to lead in ODIs. The leg-spinner picked up 2/7 in the first game against Windies and also showed off his worth as a batsman in the abandoned match against the Netherlands, striking six fours and three sixes in a 43-ball 63 to add 94 in the last 10 overs.

Notable mentions: Ireland’s Rankin was the other bowler with a five-wicket haul and Afghanistan’s Dawlat Zadran had a hat-trick, while Matthew Cross got the only century, his 101* coming for Scotland against PNG at Bulawayo Athletic Club.