PHEW, what an emotional rollercoaster that was — not just for the players but for everyone watching, at home and at the venue.
In the end, Zimbabwe held their nerve. West Indies did not. This will also have ramifications moving forward, with Zimbabwe now guaranteed to enter the Super Six phase with four points, having already defeated Netherlands and West Indies (the two other teams that have qualified from this group).
All those calculations, though, are better left for another day. Oh my word, it will take quite a bit for that to sink in.
This was the West Indies’ game to win. They had restricted Zimbabwe to a very chaseable total and then looked in fine fettle with Hope and Pooran at the crease. But once their captain Hope departed, their hopes seemed to evaporate too.
Pooran was trapped lbw and none of their lower order could stand up. Chase tried to hold things together but he simply ran out of partners, before dragging on a short delivery off Chatara. As much as this was a game the West Indies lost, take nothing away from Zimbabwe.
They ensured they got up to a defendable total (don’t forget the last-wicket partnership that ultimately got them up to 268).
Then, with the ball, they fought back superbly in the second half of the powerplay. They kept the pressure on, even as Mayers and Pooran threatened to break the shackles and when push came to shove, their bowlers kept attacking the stumps and forced the West Indian batters into mistakes. — ESPN.