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Cricket

Wessly Madhevere’s Hat-Trick helps Zimbabwe snag one run victory, level ODI series

Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine’s confidence in spin paid off when Wessly Madhevere took a hat-trick to set up an exciting finale as Zimbabwe beat Netherlands by one run in Harare on Thursday in the second of three World Cup Super League one-day internationals.

Last man Ryan Klein was run out trying a near-impossible third run that would have knotted the match. At 213 for four, the Netherlands appeared to be cruising in pursuit of Zimbabwe’s 271 all out until off-spinner Madhevere removed Colin Ackermann, Teja Nidamanuru, and Paul van Meekeren off the first three deliveries of the 44th over.

Madhevere’s hat-trick left the Netherlands at 213 for 6. With the necessary rate increasing with each over, skipper Scott Edwards did everything he could to move his team closer to the goal. Before succumbing to Raza, he hit 36 out of 28 balls. When Raza withdrew Musa Ahmed three balls later, he must have assumed he had all but secured the game.

Klaassen and Ryan Klein, on the other hand, kept the Zimbabwe camp uneasy in the last over but were unable to seal the game. No. 10 Ryan Klein began the last over with a four, and he and No. 11 Fred Klaassen followed with a two, a single, and another two off the next three balls. Klaasen then hit a six off the fifth ball, leaving the Netherlands requiring a four off the final ball to win or draw.

Klaasen was run out trying for a third on that penultimate delivery as Brad Evans delivered the ball to Tendai Chatara at the bowler’s end in time, and Zimbabwe won the series in a crucial third and final game on Saturday.

Madhevere completed his hat trick in the 44th over, when he stumped Colin Ackermann (28) with the first ball of the over and then bowled Teja Nidamanuru and Paul van Meekeren for first-ball ducks. The players who sealed the Netherlands’ last-over victory in the first game were Nidamanuru and van Meekeren.

Madhevere’s hat trick was the 50th in one-day internationals and the third by a Zimbabwean. Starter Max O’Dowd scored 81, but Zimbabwe held off the Netherlands with 3-36 from Madhevere and 3-39 from Sikandar Raza, who returned to the Zimbabwe team after a stint abroad. Sean Williams’ 77 and wicketkeeper Clive Madande’s 52nd half-century in a row guided Zimbabwe reach 271 all out in 49.2 overs batting first.

Zimbabwe 271 in 49.2 overs [C. Ervine 39, W. Madhevere 43, S. Williams 77, C. Madande 52; P van Meekeren 2-66, C. Ackermann 2-51, Shariz Ahmad 5-43] v Netherlands 270 in 50 overs [M. O’Dowd 81, T. Cooper 74, S. Edwards 36; S. Raza 3-39, Madhevere 3-36]

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