ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2017/18

Afghanistan v West Indies, World Cup Qualifier 2018, final, Harare

One of the best times we've come together as a side - Holder

The West Indies captain praises a "total team effort" but acknowledges team isn't a finished article yet
May 04, 2024
Afghanistan v West Indies, World Cup Qualifier, Final, Harare

Afghanistan complete come-from-behind title win

Mohammad Shahzad's adventurous 84 led the way after teenager Najeeb Ur Rahman had helped reduce West Indies to 204 in the final
May 05, 2024
Afghanistan v Ireland, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

'The Associates don't know what's going to happen to them' - Porterfield

Ireland's captain says his Full Member team are the lucky ones, as he sympathises with the Associates who missed out on the World Cup
May 01, 2024
Afghanistan v Ireland, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

'This victory is for the people of Afghanistan' - Stanikzai

Ireland's captain says his Full Member team are the lucky ones, as he sympathises with the Associates who missed out on the World Cup
May 03, 2024
Afghanistan v Ireland, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Afghanistan pull off the great escape to make World Cup

Afghanistan lost their group games to Scotland, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong and entered the Super Six with no points, but victories over West Indies, UAE and Ireland - as well as helpful results in other games - meant that Friday's win took them to the 2019 Wo
May 01, 2024
World Cup Qualifier 2018, Harare

Guys are shattered in the change room - Cremer

With his team's World Cup dreams all but shattered, a devastated Zimbabwe captain lamented the two missed opportunities to qualify against West Indies and UAE
May 01, 2024
World Cup Qualifier 2018, Harare

UAE all but end Zimbabwe's World Cup dream

Chasing 230 in 40 overs in a rain-affected match, Zimbabwe went into the last over needing 15, but managed only 11
May 04, 2024
Scotland v West Indies, World Cup qualifier, Super Six, Harare

'We don't deserve what's happened to us'

An iffy lbw decision followed by rain left Scotland so near, yet so far away from achieving their World Cup dream. For an Associate side that beat Afghanistan, tied with Zimbabwe and went toe-to-toe with West Indies, it was a cruel end to their qualifying
May 02, 2024
Scotland v West Indies, World Cup qualifier, Super Six, Harare

'Two critical moments in two critical games have potentially cost us' - Coetzer

While Scotland's captain rued his team's bad luck with lbw decisions, West Indies' Jason Holder pointed out that the availability, or otherwise, of the DRS was not under his control
May 02, 2024
Scotland v West Indies, World Cup qualifier, Super Six, Harare

Relief for West Indies, heartbreak for Scotland

The two-time champions sealed a berth in the 2019 World Cup when rain arrived with Scotland five runs short of the DLS par score
May 02, 2024
Afghanistan v UAE, World Cup Qualifier 2018, Super Sixes, Harare

Rashid not giving up on World-Cup slot yet

Afghanistan's path through the Super Sixes to the 2019 World Cup is a complicated one, but the legspinner wants his team to concentrate on winning their last match and then "see what happens"
May 01, 2024
Afghanistan v UAE, World Cup Qualifier 2018, Harare

Rashid Khan's five-for keeps Afghanistan alive

Afghanistan slipped to 54 for 5 in the chase, but eventually overcame a plucky United Arab Emirates, who lost their appetite for a fight on a stiflingly hot afternoon
May 01, 2024
West Indies v Zimbabwe, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Holder, Samuels take West Indies closer to World Cup

Brendan Taylor's belligerent century went in vain as West Indies recorded their fifth-highest successful chase in ODI history
May 01, 2024
ICC World Cup Qualifiers

'Loss will put us into gear for West Indies game' - Coetzer

The Scotland captain didn't regret his decision to bowl first; hopes loss serves as a wake-cup call ahead of a must-win game
May 02, 2024
Ireland v Scotland, World Cup Qualifier, Super Sixes, Harare

Ireland give themselves 'a lifeline of hope'

Batsman Andy Balbirnie, the Man of the Match, gave a lot of credit for the win to fast bowler Boyd Rankin
May 06, 2024
Ireland v Scotland, World Cup qualifier, Super Sixes, Harare

Balbirnie's century keeps Ireland's World Cup hopes alive

Boyd Rankin snuffs out four wickets in tight chase to put an end to Scotland's unbeaten run in the tournament
May 05, 2024
Nepal v Netherlands, World Cup qualifier, 7th place playoff, Kwekwe

Van der Merwe stars as Netherlands clinch seventh place

The allrounder followed his 25 with the bat with 4 for 20 to trump a similar all-round contribution from Nepal's Sompal Kami and help his side defend 189
May 04, 2024
Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea, World Cup qualifier, 9th place playoff, Harare

Norman Vanua, Charles Amini help PNG defend 200

The two bowlers claimed four wickets each to consign Hong Kong to a 58-run loss and the last spot in the World Cup qualifier
May 05, 2024
World Cup Qualifier 2018

The painfully small margins in Associate cricket

Nepal has gained ODI status for the first time winning absolute nail-biters, but the teams that lost by such small margins also deserve a shot at more funding and better recognition
May 01, 2024
Zimbabwe v Ireland, World Cup qualifier, Super Sixes, Harare

Sikandar Raza and spinners subdue Ireland

The batsman overcame a slow pitch and disciplined attack to haul the hosts from 139 for 7 to 211 for 9
May 05, 2024
Nepal v Papua New Guinea, World Cup Qualifier, Bulawayo

'Biggest day in Nepal cricket history' - Khadka

May 06, 2024
Scotland v UAE, World Cup Qualifier, Super Six, Bulawayo

Cross, Macleod lead Scotland to thumping win

The second-wicket pair added 161 to propel Scotland to 322 for 6, their fourth-highest ODI total, which ended up proving well beyond UAE's reach
May 02, 2024
Nepal v Papua New Guinea, World Cup Qualifier, Bulawayo

Nepal claim ODI status for the first time

Dipendra Singh Airee was front and centre on this historic occasion, claiming 4 for 15 to knock the opposition over for 114 and then leading the chase with a 58-ball half-century
May 04, 2024
Afghamistan v West Indies, World Cup Qualifier, Super Sixes, Harare

Afghanistan stay alive after spinners' brilliance sets up narrow win

Facing a must-win in every remaining match left in the tournament, Afghanistan presented their best selves yet in the World Cup Qualifier, producing a top-class bowling performance to rein in a powerful West Indies line-up
May 01, 2024
Ireland v United Arab Emirates, ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Stirling-Porterfield record stand razes UAE

Kevin O'Brien, Body Rankin and Simi Singh also made significant contributions to Ireland's massive 226-run DLS win
May 01, 2024
Zimbabwe v Scotland, World Cup qualifier, Bulawayo

Zimbabwe 'dodged a bullet there' - Cremer

Graeme Cremer accepted that Scotland had the game in the bag before Blessing Muzarabani took the last wicket standing to seal a tie
May 04, 2024
West Indies v Netherlands, ICC World Cup Qualifier, Harare

Lewis 84 puts Netherlands out of Super Sixes

A 113-run stand between Wesley Barresi and Ryan ten Doeschate kept Netherlands in the hunt in a revised chase of 222, but a string of run outs pegged them back and gave West Indies their fourth successive win
May 02, 2024
Hong Kong v Nepal, World Cup qualifier, Bulawayo

Nepal's win keeps Afghanistan's World Cup hopes alive

Nepal were out of contention for the Super Sixes, but they kept their hopes of securing ODI status alive
May 04, 2024
Zimbabwe v Scotland, World Cup qualifier, Bulawayo

Muzarabani holds nerve to give Zimbabwe thrilling tie

With one to defend off the last over, the seamer started with a wide but then had Scotland's No. 11 Brad Wheal caught behind with his next delivery to spark wild celebrations
May 05, 2024
Ireland v West Indies, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Rovman Powell ton leads West Indies into Super Six

From 83 for 5, West Indies recovered to set Ireland a target of 258, and proceeded to win by 52 runs with Kemar Roach picking up four vital wickets
May 01, 2024
Zimbabwe v Hong Kong, World Cup Qualifiers, Bulawayo

Zimbabwe make it three wins in three

Despite stalling late in their innings, Zimbabwe put up a total that proved to be well out of Hong Kong's reach
May 05, 2024
Afghanistan v Nepal, World Cup Qualifiers, Bulawayo

Najibullah and Nabi keep Afghanistan alive

Afghanistan's hopes of qualifying hinge on a Nepal win over Hong Kong in the final group fixture on Monday
May 01, 2024
Netherlands v PNG, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Netherlands stay afloat with comfortable victory

Netherlands needed to win this game to have any chance of staying in contention for a place in World Cup 2019. They did that.
May 04, 2024
Afghanistan v Hong Kong, World Cup Qualifier, Bulawayo

Couldn't control our nerves - Rashid Khan

Afghanistan's stand-in captain said the side's inability to handle pressure cost them against Hong Kong and put their progress to the Super Six in doubt
May 01, 2024
Afghanistan v Hong Kong, World Cup Qualifier, Bulawayo

'Hong Kong can beat any team' - Ehsan Khan

The offspinner savoured a career-best 4 for 33 against a fancied Afghanistan team at the Bulawayo Athletic Club
May 05, 2024
Afghanistan v Hong Kong, World Cup Qualifier, Bulawayo

Afghanistan suffer massive dent to World Cup hopes

Hong Kong scored their first ever ODI win over a Full Member when they beat Afghanistan by 30 runs on a rainy afternoon at the Bulawayo Athletic Club
May 01, 2024
Nepal v Scotland, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, Bulawayo

Coetzer leads Scotland into the Super Sixes

The captain's unbeaten 88 against Nepal led Scotland into the Super Sixes stage of the World Cup Qualifier and one step closer to the showpiece event in England in 2019
May 05, 2024
Netherlands v United Arab Emirates, ICC World Cup Qualifier, Harare

Mustafa, Suri power UAE past Netherlands

UAE retained their third spot in Group A, behind Ireland and West Indies, while Netherlands are fifth after two successive defeats
May 06, 2024
Papua New Guinea v West Indies, World Cup Qualifier, Harare

Holder and Brathwaite ward off PNG threat

For a few moments, West Indies looked in danger of losing to Papua New Guinea, chasing a target of 201. But their captain Jason Holder took charge to lead the team across the line
May 02, 2024
Ireland v PNG, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Ireland get past PNG despite Ura brilliance

Tony Ura, the Papua New Guinea opener, hit 151 off 142 balls. The rest of his team managed 74 among them
May 02, 2024
UAE v West Indies, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Gayle's six-laden 123 razes UAE

Shimron Hetmyer played the perfect partner, allowing UAE no respite once Gayle departed to complete a blistering century of his own
May 02, 2024
Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, World Cup Qualifier, Group B

Zimbabwe hang on to clinch two-run thriller

Afghanistan were cruising in their chase of 197 but then they collapsed, before their last wicket took them within touching distance of victory. But it wasn't to be.
May 01, 2024
Hong Kong v Scotland, Group B, ICC World Cup Qualifier

Tom Sole sinks Hong Kong with 4 for 15

The offspinner restricted Hong Kong to just 91, and then the Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer led his side to their second win in two matches
May 02, 2024
Afghanistan v Scotland, World Cup Qualifier 2018, Bulawayo

MacLeod counters Rashid threat in style

The Scotland batsman clinically dismantled ODI cricket's No. 1 ranked bowler during the course of his third 150 plus score in the format
May 01, 2024
Zimbabwe v Nepal, World Cup Qualifier, Group B, Bulawayo

Raza, Taylor tons power Zimbabwe to massive win

The pair added 173 for the fifth wicket to drive the hosts to a total of 380 for 6; Raza followed up with three wickets to help wrap up a 116-run win
May 06, 2024
Ireland v Netherlands, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

Balbirnie shakes off blow to head to beat Netherlands

Andy Balbirinie and the bowlers fashioned a 97-run win for Ireland in their first game of the World Cup Qualifiers
May 04, 2024
PNG v UAE, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare

UAE open campaign with breezy victory

Seamer Mohammad Naveed contributed much to PNG's slide, taking career-best ODI figures of 5 for 28
May 05, 2024
Afghanistan v Scotland, World Cup Qualifier, Group B, Bulawayo

MacLeod's 157* downs Afghanistan in opening-day upset

Rashid Khan endured a difficult captaincy debut, getting out for a first-ball duck and conceding 68 in nine overs as Scotland chased down 256 with 16 balls to spare
May 01, 2024
World Cup Qualifier 2018

Zimbabwe's last big job

The World Cup Qualifier at home presents an opportunity for several senior players to sign their careers off with one last hurrah
May 05, 2024