Miller stars in Windies win
An unconvincing West Indies needed left-arm spinner Nikita Miller’s five-wicket haul to beat minnows United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 32 runs, as their dodgy start to the ICC World Cup Qualifiers continued here yesterday.
Embarrassingly bundled out for 115 in the 34th over at the at Harare Sports Club, the Caribbean side rebounded to rout UAE for 83 off 29 overs, and claim victory in their last of their official warm-up matches before their Group A campaign gets under way next Tuesday against the same opponents.
The 35-year-old Miller bagged five for 20 and seamer Kemar Roach, three for 15, as West Indies avoided another potential disaster following on from Tuesday’s shock defeat to Afghanistan.
FIRST WICKET
Sent in, there was no sign of what was to unfold when the Caribbean side reached 81 for three in the 18th over.
Veteran Chris Gayle (16) and rookie Evin Lewis (10) put on 31 for the first wicket before Shimron Hetmyer, who top-scored with 20, added 34 with Marlon Samuels (15) for the second wicket.
The left-handed Hetmyer was bowled by off-spinner Rohan Mustafa (2-10) in the 16th over after facing 28 balls and counting a single four and Samuels followed 13 deliveries later, caught at the wicket off leg-spinner Imran Haider, who was the best bowler with four for 16.
West Indies then capitulated, losing their last seven wickets for just 34 runs as Haider and left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza (2-14) ran through the middle and lower order.
Seamer Mohammed Naveed accounted for both openers to finish with two for 27.