[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v Netherlands, 1st ODI, Harare, 21 Mar 2023

[tgk]

Yeah we ain't defending 4 off the last good game

[sam_ahm]

Tough to take this. Those back to back drops by Wellington cost the game.

[sam_ahm]

It's ok, at least it is not the qualifier.

[Googly]

Doesn't make sense for Evans to have only 5 overs but Ervine trusts him with the last one?
If he'd bowled his full quota we'd probably have won.

[jaybro]

Good win for the Global XI

Zimbabwe shat the bed

[tej_27]

Just before that over from burl . I think everyone including ervine thought they have won the game and his spinners need game time (i definitely think this is what happened)

[secretzimbo]

We did really well to make a game out of it from 90-7 to be fair.

Great game, ebbed and flowed throughout - shame we were on the losing side. If the top order come to the party then we'll win the next two games I'm sure.

[sam_ahm]

Series can still be won, I agree. Netherlands batting looks weak but their bowling is very strong.

Williams' importance to this team cannot be stressed enough. Not only is he a very good batter and bowler but he is also a very smart one at it. I've observed Williams reads the game very well and he is particularly smart with the way he bowls, he is difficult to get away without risking getting out. With the bat he reads the game situation much better than, say, Raza who often ends up playing a rash shot at the wrong time.

This is definitely Zimbabwe's best XI though (with Williams in for Wesley) absolutely no doubt about it in my mind.

[Kriterion_BD]

Wow what a game. I left when NED was 49-4 and batting like they were trying to draw the match.

Awesome game. Kinda like Nepal vs UAE last week. Associate games are always crazy.

[Kriterion_BD]

It's ok, at least it is not the qualifier.

Results like this in close proximity to a clutch qualifier game (plus that UAE game) can often play on the minds. Half of the expected squad played in both games.

The WCQ are going to be absolutely brutal. It will surely be as much value for viewing as the actual world cup.