Zimbabwe and former champions Sri Lanka find themselves in a favorable position to secure the last two qualifying berths for this year’s ODI World Cup, while the WestIndies, who have won the trophy twice, stare at the possible embarrassment of missing the tournament for the first time.
Having triumphed in all four group matches, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka enter the crucial Super Six stage of the qualifiers with four points each, carrying over the rewards obtained from defeating the teams that also progressed from the initial round.
With their impressive batting performances, including a national record-breaking score of 408-6 against the USA, Zimbabwe can approach the upcoming matches with confidence, expecting the runs to keep flowing as the stakes heighten from Thursday.
“We have found our momentum and we are looking forward to carrying it,” said Sean Williams, who scored 174 in Monday’s 304-run rout of the USA.
Williams is clearly leading the charts as the highest run-scorer, amassing an impressive total of 390 runs. He showcased his dominance with an unbeaten century against Nepal and followed it up with a solid knock of 91 against the Netherlands.
In addition to Williams, both Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza achieved remarkable centuries.
Raza’s off-spin skills not only contributed to his batting prowess but also led to eight wickets, adding strength to the bowling attack, which is spearheaded by the left- arm fast bowler Richard Ngarava.
For their upcoming matches against Oman, Sri Lanka, and Scotland, Zimbabwe will be shifting their base from Harare to Bulawayo. Despite the change in venue, the home team can count on the unwavering support of their fans, which will undoubtedly work in their favor.
“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,” said Williams.
The 1996 champions Sri Lanka had a relatively smooth journey through the group stage of the tournament. However, their upcoming match on Friday against the Netherlands poses an interesting challenge, as the Dutch team enters the game with renewed confidence following their remarkable victory over the West Indies in a super over.
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been a standout performer, impressively claiming a total of 18 wickets. His exceptional achievement of three consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODIs puts him in the esteemed company of Pakistan’s legendary bowler, Waqar Younis.
“He’s a champion. Whenever I throw him the ball, he delivers for me,” said Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka. While the future looks bright for Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the West Indies are in dire straits after successive defeats to the hosts and the Netherlands.
The once mighty Windies, who clinched victory in the inaugural two World Cups held in 1975 and 1979, now find themselves in a position where they must secure victories against Scotland, Oman, and Sri Lanka in order to have a realistic chance of qualifying.
Expressing his awareness of the challenges ahead, coach Daren Sammy, who previously led the West Indies to two T20 World Cup triumphs as captain, stated, “I fully comprehend the path must embark upon with this team.”
“Sometimes you’ve got to reach rock bottom to come back up. I understand the challenges ahead and also understand that things will not change overnight.
“It’s a true reflection of where our cricket is at the moment. We have a lot of work to do.”
The Netherlands and Scotland will both start on two points. The Dutch have not featured at the finals since 2011 while the Scots missed out four years ago after a controversial lbw decision.
“We’re good enough to compete against the best teams in the world; we’re just getting better,” said Logan van Beek, whose heroics in Monday’s super over stunned the West Indies.
”The more we play the best teams, the better we get. And more fun we get, the more players we get, and we deserve to be on that level.”
Rank outsiders Oman complete the Super Six line-up for an event which concludes with the final on July 9.
