Powell hundred sees Windies into Super Six
HARARE: West Indies batsman Rovman Powell said his side are focused on winning all their World Cup qualifying games, after his century led them to victory over Ireland on Saturday.
Powell’s maiden one-day international ton dragged the Windies from a difficult position to beat Ireland in Harare and reach the Super Six stage of qualifying.
“We didn’t come here for four wins out of four, we came here to win every single game and we’re still on course to do that,” said the 24-year-old, who brought up his hundred with a massive six that smashed a window.
“Qualifying for the World Cup means a lot for the 16 million Caribbean people and that’s our aim.”
Hosts Zimbabwe also booked their spot in the next round by making it three wins from three in Group B with a comfortable victory over Hong Kong, while Afghanistan saw off Nepal to keep their slim hopes alive.
Powell helped the West Indies reach 257-8 off their 50 overs, before the two-time World Cup winners took regular wickets to secure a 52-run victory, with Kemar Roach claiming 4-27.
The Caribbean outfit can seal the maximum four points to carry into the Super Six round when they play the Netherlands in their final Group A game today, when Ireland will have to beat the United Arab Emirates to be sure of progression.
Only two teams from the qualifiers will join the world’s top eight ODI nations at next year’s World Cup in England and Wales.
Afghanistan need Nepal to beat Hong Kong to reach the Super Sixes, after finishing their Group B campaign with a sixwicket win over the Nepalese.
The other game saw the Netherlands beat Papua New Guinea by 57 runs, but the Dutch need to beat the Windies and hope Ireland lose to the UAE to have any chance of going through.
• COLOMBO: Mushfiqur Rahim hit a blazing half-century to help Bangladesh chase down a record 215 and beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in a thrilling Twenty20 international of the tri-series in Colombo on Saturday.
Rahim smashed an unbeaten 72 off 35 balls as the visitors achieved their target with two balls to spare at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Rahim, who hit 5 fours and 4 sixes, broke into a dance after giving Bangladesh their highestever run chase in the shortest format, and the fourth biggest overall in international T20s.
The tournament, timed to commemorate the host island’s 70 years of independence, stays alive with all three teams having won a game each. India take on Sri Lanka next today.