BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe was dealt a heartbreak Tuesday when it was knocked out of the 2023 Cricket World finals in India after losing to Scotland by 31 runs at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
It was second successive defeat at Queens after a 9-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Chris Sole’s searing new-ball spell put Scotland on top after their batters had scraped their way towards the end to put on a respectable total.
Sole sent back Joylord Gumbie off the first ball and then sent skipper Craig Ervine back, cleaning him up in the third over.
When the in-form Sean Williams was bowled by Sole in the seventh over with Zimbabwe’s score still under 30, Scotland were well and truly on top.
They could have furthered this advantage had Chris Greaves held onto a catch next over off Brandon McMullen. Instead, Scotland found a wicket at the other end with Innocent Kaia departing, but Raza, alongside Ryan Burl, put on a solid partnership to pull Zimbabwe back into the game.
Greaves made amends when he sent Raza back in his first over to break a promising stand. Burl, though, was unmoved and completed his fifty, and with Wessly Madhevere for company, Zimbabwe grew in confidence.
Mark Watt brought Scotland back into the game when he trapped Madhevere in front for 40 in the 31st over.
Burl’s continued onslaught kept Scotland on their toes with Wellington Masakadza holding up his end. When McMullen returned to dismiss Masakadza, Scotland had an opening at the tail and Burl had to start attacking.
Richard Ngarava fell soon after, and Burl smashed Leask for a four and a six in succession before another attempted slog brought an end to his excellent knock of 83 from 84 balls.
Safyaan Sharif brought an end to Zimbabwe’s innings to help Scotland leapfrog them in the points table and lift their World Cup hopes.
