Following the conclusion of the group stage of the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup Qualifier, the Chevrons are now in Harare gearing up for the Super Six.

The Chevrons topped group B with three wins over Nepal, Afghanistan and Hong Kong as well as an incredible tie with Scotland. Zimbabwe played all their group fixtures at Queens Sports Club. Due to the overwhelming response from the fans in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s Super Six matches will now be played at Harare Sports Club with all of them being televised on SuperSport.

Monday’s outcomes mean West Indies will carry maximum four points in the Super Six stage, Ireland two and the United Arab Emirates zero, while Zimbabwe and Scotland will carry forward three points apiece and Afghanistan none. The sides will also retain their pre-event group seeding in the Super Six stage.

In Zimbabwe’s last match of the group against Scotland, the Scots were cruising at 145 for four before they slipped to 173 for eight. However, Michael Leask and Mark Watt (17) carried them to 209 for eight when Watt fell to pace bowler Tendai Chatara off the last ball of the 48th over. Lanky pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani started the final over with a wide that tied the scores before accounting for last-man Brad Wheal with Leask stranded at 28 for the match to end with a tie.

The result means that Zimbabwe are yet to lose a match at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier dating back to 1982 when they won the then ICC Trophy. Zimbabwe have won 26 out of 28 matches with the rest of the matches concluding in a tie and a no result.

Zimbabwe did not hold any training session in Harare as the players were given rest after travelling from Bulawayo. The Graeme Cremer led Chevrons resumed training on Wednesday. Zimbabwe’s first match in the Super Six is against Ireland at Harare Sports Club on Friday before they take on West Indies at the same venue next Monday. The final match is a contest with UAE at Harare Sports Club on 22 March and if Zimbabwe are in the top two, they will play in the final on 25 March. By that time, they would have already booked their place in next year’s Cricket World Cup in England.

Bulawayo cricket fans have their final taste of ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier action when Scotland face UAE at Queens Sports Club on Thursday. 

Super Six fixtures

Thursday, 15 March – West Indies  v Afghanistan ( Harare Sports Club), UAE v Scotland (QSC), Papua New Guinea v Nepal (play-off, Old Hararians) Netherlands v Hong Kong (play-off, Kwekwe Sports Club) 

Friday, 16 March – Ireland v Zimbabwe (HSC)

Saturday, 17 March – 7th/8th play-off, Kwekwe Sports Club, 9th/10th play-off (Old Hararians)

Sunday, 18 March – Ireland v Scotland (HSC) 

Monday, 19 March – West v Zimbabwe (HSC)  

Tuesday, 20 March – UAE v Afghanistan (OH)  

Wednesday, 21 March – West Indies v Scotland (HSC) 

Thursday, 22 March - UAE v Zimbabwe (HSC)  

Friday, 23 March – Ireland v Afghanistan (HSC)

Sunday, 25 March – Final (HSC)

@Mdawini_29