West Indies v United States of America
Group Stage – One Day International – ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers
Venue: Takashinga Cricket Club
Toss: USA won the toss and bowled
Result: West Indies won by 39 runs
Scorecard:  https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/216481/

Harare, Zimbabwe – Four half centuries littered throughout the West Indies innings helped them to a total of 297 in their opening encounter of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.  In reply, the USA were only able to get to 258-7 in their allotted 50 overs. It was the first ODI played at the picturesque location in the capital city and also the first ODI between West Indies and the USA.

The Men in Maroon found themselves in a spot of bother early on at 14-2 off 5.4 overs after both openers fell during a difficult period to bat, with the ball swinging around in the morning. Captain Shai Hope came to the crease to join Johnson Charles (66 runs from 80 balls), and they steadied the ship with a toiling partnership of 115 runs, before Hope was dismissed for 54 off 60 balls as he was caught at deep extra-cover.

Nicholas Pooran showed some impetus in the middle overs, hitting two fours and three sixes on his way to 43 off just 28 balls, which was crucial to the West Indies innings.  Allrounder Roston Chase came in at the fall of Charles’s wicket and this proved to be a wise decision as he scored a run-a-ball 55 to further hold the innings together.

Still in danger of ending on an unsatisfactory total, Player-of-the-Match Jason Holder played a brilliant knock batting with the lower-order. He scored 55 runs from 40 balls.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Holder said “It was good to spend some time in the middle.  I think the most important thing was for us to get across the line and anything I can do to contribute to a team win is always good.”

In reply, the USA never really threatened to reach the target, finding themselves four wickets down with 55 runs on the board after 13.4 overs. However, they did have a notable batting performance by Gajanand Singh, the former West Indies Under-19 batsman, who made 101 from 109 balls – his maiden ODI century. The left-hander from Guyana shared a partnership of 58 runs with Shayan Jahangir (39 from 49 balls) and later, one an unbroken eight-wicket stand of 76 with Nosthush Kenjige.

That next encounter for the West Indies will be on Thursday, 22 June at the Harare Sports Club against Nepal. The two-time World Cup winners are in Group A alongside hosts Zimbabwe, Nepal, Netherlands and the United States of America.

West Indies Match Schedule

All matches start at 9am local time (3am Eastern Caribbean/2am Jamaica)

Sunday 18 June: West Indies beat USA by 39 runs at Takashinga Cricket Club
Thursday 22 June: v Nepal at Harare Sports Club
Saturday 24 June: v West Indies at Harare Sports Club
Monday 26 June: v Netherlands at Takashinga Cricket Club

-ENDS-