“ZimBABAR is the happiest person now”- Twitterati reacts as Sikandar Raza turns the table to book a place in the Super 12 stage
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Sikandar Raza
Zimbabwe became the fourth team to book their place in the Super 12 stage by defeating Scotland in the last Group stage match played on Friday, October 21, at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart. Sikandar Raza and Craig Ervine shone with the bat with their scintillating knock to guide Zimbabwe to a five-wicket win.
Scotland chose to bat first after opening the toss. Apart from George Munsey, no Scottish batter could do much. Although Munsey played a slow knock of 54 runs off 51 balls, he took his team to a decent total of 132/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Zimbabwe’s response was rather poor when they lost a wicket. Regis Chakabva and Wesley Madhevere both were dismissed cheaply on four and duck.
Zimbabwe lost their third wicket in for Sean Williams (seven off 12 balls) and tethering at 42/3 in eight overs. Then the pair of Ervine and Raza steadied the ship with their brilliant knocks.
Raza scored 40 runs off 23 balls (with three fours and two sixes) at an impressive strike rate of 173.91. But in the 15th over, Josh Davey bowled a slower bouncer, making Raza go for a pull shot but gloved it to the keeper Matthews Cross.
Two overs later, Zimbabwe lost their other set batter Ervine, who scored 58 runs off 54 balls with six boundaries at a strike rate of 107.41. Mark Watt was the bowler to dismiss him with a fuller ball. Ervine tried to smash through and lofted his short but didn’t give enough power to it. Calum MacLeod at mid-off pouched it safely.
But that didn’t harm Zimbabwe much as they needed just 14 runs off 18 balls, which Milton Shumba contributed with his 11-ball 11 runs to take Zimbabwe to a five-wicket victory against Scotland. Raza was once again adjudged the Player of the Match for his quickfire. To conclude, the teams that have qualified for the Super 12 stage are- Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Zimbabwe.
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Check how Twitter reacted to Sikandar Raza’s match winning knock
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Gouri Das
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