T20 World Cup 2022: Alzarri Joseph four-for helps West Indies register 31-run win over Zimbabwe

After
posting
153
for
seven
after
electing
to
bat
first,
the
Nicholas
Pooran-led
side
bundled
Zimbabwe
out
for
122
in
18.2
overs
as
Joseph
picked
up
a
four-for.
While
all-rounder
Holder
returned
with
a
three-for.

Sikandar
Raza
show
all
over
again

Despite
losing
opener
Kyle
Mayers
early,
West
Indies
started
well
as
Johnson
Charles
and
Evin
Lewis
shared
a
crucial
partnership
for
the
second
wicket.
However,
with
the
introduction
of
spin,
the
floodgates
were
opened
for
the
batting
side
as
a
flurry
of
wickets
started
going
down.

1

53392

All-rounder
Sikandar
Raza
did
the
bulk
of
the
damage,
ending
with
figures
of
3/19
in
his
four
overs.
He
broke
the
stand
between
Lewis
and
Charles,
with
the
wicket
of
the
opener.
Charles
also
departed
for
45
after
a
mix-up
with
Rovman
Powell,
leading
to
a
run-out.

West
Indies
found
themselves
struggling
at
101/6,
but
a
late
flourish
from
Powell
and
Akeal
Hosein
allowed
them
to
post
a
score
of
153/7.
Powell
made
28,
while
Hosein
was
unbeaten
on
23.
Powell’s
104-meter-long
maximum
over
deep
midwicket
put
everyone
in
awe
as
the
ball
went
out
of
the
ground.

Zimbabwe
skipper
absent

Earlier,
in
a
must-win
encounter,
West
Indies
skipper
Nicholas
Pooran
called
it
right
at
the
toss
and
opted
to
bat
first.
The
West
Indies
made
one
forced
change,
with
Johnson
Charles
coming
in
for
Brandon
King
in
the
batting
order.

Zimbabwe
were
also
been
forced
into
a
change,
with
skipper
Craig
Ervine
missing
the
contest
due
to
an
illness.
Regis
Chakabva
captains
the
side
in
his
absence,
with
Tony
Munyonga
replacing
him
in
the
side.

West
Indies
fight
after
a
fabulous
start
from
Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe
started
off
optimistically,
knocking
off
18
runs
in
the
first
over
by
Kyle
Mayers
and
11
runs
in
the
next
by
Akeal
Hosein.
The
introduction
of
Alzarri
Joseph
reaped
rewards
for
the
West
Indies
as
the
tall
quick
picked
up
two
wickets
in
his
first
two
overs.

Obed
McCoy
added
another
in
the
last
over
of
the
Powerplay
and
Zimbabwe
were
suddenly
in
a
spot
of
bother.
Raza
came
out
all
guns
blazing,
smashing
a
six
early
in
his
innings
but
a
wild
heave
off
Odean
Smith
shortly
after
forced
him
to
take
a
long
walk
back.

Akeal
Hosein
sent
back
Milton
Shumba
while
the
dangerous
Ryan
Burl
was
trapped
in
front
by
Jason
Holder
to
dent
Zimbabwe
further.
A
late
fightback
from
Luke
Jongwe
was
put
to
an
end
by
Alzarri
Joseph,
who
picked
up
4/16,
each
of
his
dismissals
splattering
the
stumps.

The
net
run
rate
factor

The
late
burst
from
Jongwe,
where
he
hit
17
runs
off
one
Odean
Smith
over,
allowed
Zimbabwe
to
get
closer
to
the
West
Indies
target
even
if
they
lost.
In
a
group
where
the
net
run
rate
will
likely
become
a
factor
later
on,
Scotland
and
Zimbabwe
are
in
the
top
two
with
West
Indies
and
Ireland
following
them.
All
four
teams
have
two
points
apiece.