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Records tumble as Williams-inspired Zimbabwe demolish USA

Zimbabwe defeated the United States of America by 304 runs in their ODI World Cup Qualifiers match on Monday at the Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe, who had previously qualified for the tournament’s Super Sixes, posted their highest ODI total (408 for six) before being defeated by the USA for 104. The margin of victory is the second-highest in men’s ODI history, after only India’s 317-run victory against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram in January 2023.

Zimbabwe was carried along by skipper Sean Williams’ dashing 65-ball century, which he finally converted to a career-best 174 off only 101 balls. Williams hit 21 fours and five sixes throughout his innings, which was aided by wicketkeeper Joylord Gumble’s 78 and Ryan Burl’s 16-ball 47.

A USA team handicapped by the absences of Saurabh Netravalkar and Ali Khan were tested by Zimbabwe’s skipper as Sean Williams rallied the hosts to their latest triumph. Zimbabwe’s opening combination of Joylord Gumbie and Innocent Kaia started slowly after being sent in by Monank Patel, hitting 56 for the first wicket before Williams came.

He quickly began destroying the USA attack, striking Nisarg Patel for three consecutive boundaries and reaching his half-century in 33 balls with a six from Singh. Gumbie’s century came off only 70 deliveries, but his luck ran out on 78 when he was stumped off the bowling of Nosthush Kenjige.
Sikandar Raza was similarly lethal, smashing 48 off 27 deliveries before Ryan Burl smashed 47 off 16 deliveries.

Williams was eventually out for 174, but with 408 on the board, the stand-in captain had more than fulfilled his batting obligations, and Zimbabwe’s bowlers immediately backed him up with a trio of early wickets, putting them in command. Richard Ngarava dismissed openers Steven Taylor (0) and Sushant Modani (6), kicking off a steady stream of wickets at regular intervals, with skipper Patel (9), Aaron Jones (8), and Garjanand Singh (13) all leaving as soon as they arrived. Things worsened when Shayan Jahangir was run out without facing, only two balls after Jones was similarly stranded. Abhishek Paradkar (24) and Singh (21) provided some resistance, but the Zimbabwe assault was determined to end the game as soon as possible, and they did it in the 26th over when Usman Rafiq was run out.

Monank Patel, USA Captain said: “We haven’t played our best cricket and I feel like mentally we need to be strong and come back stronger in the next game. Our batting department has been struggling and we got a few chances dropped otherwise it would have been less than 400 but still I would say lots of learnings from this game. One by one everyone started to get the flu in the last two days. Our main bowlers Ali Khan and Saurabh got the (flu) I think they will recover in a couple of days and I am looking forward to the next game. I think we should be able to play with our best 11.”

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Sean Williams, Zimbabwe Captain said: “Having the greats of the game around today, Andy and all of you there inspires us. It’s very pleasing and obviously having four new players in our team I think it was really good the intensity that they showed from the ball up front was also bang on. I think we have been trying against Pakistan to play with this pattern. All of the guys are starting to slowly fit in and understand the pattern. I think multiple contributions from each and every individual really pleased me. All those small contributions played a massive part. Even in the fielding as well I thought picking up three run-outs in a game is work in the right direction I think we don’t have to change much in our game. We have found our momentum and we are looking forward to carrying it. Obviously, it’s a different venue, and everything about it is different but still having that crowd behind us is always like having a 12th man.”

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