Zimbabwe got off to a good start in the qualifying round of the ICC World T20 beating Hong Kong by 14 runs in the opener at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha Nagpur on Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 159 runs, Hong Kong were heading well scoring 108 runs for the loss of four wickets in 16.2 overs, but were forced to fold their innings at 144 for 6 in the stipulated 20 overs due to top and lower order collapses.
Right handed opening batsman cum wicketkeeper Jamie Atkinson made a half century scoring 53 runs off 44 balls featuring four fours and two sixes before he was caught by Williams off a Tiripano delivery at 104 for 4.
Number six batsman Tanwir Afzal quickfired 17-ball 31 runs, including three fours and one six.
Besides, MS Chapman (19) and Anshuman Rath (13) were the other Hong Kong batsmen reaching the double figures
DT Tiripano and TL Chatara took two wickets each conceding 27 and 28 runs respectively while WP Masakadza and Sikandar Raza took one wicket each,
Earlier, Zimbabwe scored a fighting total of 158 runs against Hong Kong in the qualifying round opener.
Sent in to bat first, Zimbabwe faced an initial batting collapse losing four wickets –Hamilton Masakadza (20), R Mutumbami (0), SC Williams (12) and Sikandar Raza (3) — for 62 runs in 7.5 overs.
But Vusi Sibanda pairing with MN Waller carried the team total to a respectable position contributing 61 runs in the 5th wicket stand.
Opener Vusi Sibanda scored the team highest 59 runs off 46 balls featuring five fours and two sixes to be adjudged man of the match while Malcolm Waller made 29-ball 26 runs with one boundary.
