ICC World Cricket League Championship winners the Netherlands defeated Nepal by 45 runs to finish seventh in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier at Kwekwe Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 17.
Batting first, the Dutch collected 189 for nine with Bas de Leede (39), Max O’Dowd (28), Roelof van der Merwe (25), Scott Edwards (25) and Pieter Seelaar (23) making contributions with the bat.
Nepal fast bowler Sompal Kami returned figures of four for 24, while Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane bagged two wickets each, conceding 38 and 41 runs, respectively.
In turn, van der Merwe recorded figures of 10-1-20-4 as Nepal were spun out for 144. Van der Merwe was later declared Player of the Match. Sompal followed up his four for 24 with a top-score of 36.
Meanwhile, in the 4,000th ODI, which ironically was Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Hong Kong’s last ODI at least until 2022, PNG defeated Hong Kong by 58 runs in the 9th/10th place play-off.
Batting first PNG were bowled out for 200 in 48.2 overs with 22-year-old off-spinner Kinchit Shah returning career-best figures of 3.2-0-10-4 and Nadeem Ahmed and Ehsan Khan bagging two wickets apiece. Opener Tony Ura top-scored with 49 while Chad Soper contributed 40.
Hong Kong maintained their trend in the competition when they once again faded away after making a brisk start. At Old Hararians, they reached 81 for two in 10 overs but were then dismissed for 142 in 35.2 overs after Babar Hayat fell for 37.
Charles Amini, the 25-year-old wrist spinner, was the destroyer-in-chief when he finished with career-best figures of 10-0-27-4 to walk away with the Player of the Match award, while fast bowler Norman returned figures of 7.2-1-24-4.
The Netherlands and the three highest finishing Associate members – Scotland, UAE and Nepal – have earned ODI status for the next four years till 2022, while PNG and Hong Kong have been relegated to the ICC World Cricket League Division 2.
The top two sides from the Super Six will qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, which will be staged next year in England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July.
Scores in brief (play-off ranking matches):
The Netherlands beat Nepal by 45 runs wickets (7th/8th play-off), Kwekwe Sports Club
Netherlands 189-9, 50 overs (Bas de Leede 39, Max O’Dowd 28, Roelof van der Merwe 25, Scott Edwards 25, Pieter Seelaar 23, Shane Snater 23 not out; Sompal Kami 4-24; Lalit Rajbanshi 2-38, Sandeep Lamichhane 2/41)
Nepal 144 all out, 44.4 overs (Sompal Kami 36, Dipendra Airee 25, Paras Khadka 22; Roelof van der Merwe 4-20, Pieter Seelar 2/30, Fred Klaassen 2-37)
Player of the Match – Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands)
PNG beat Hong Kong by 58 runs (9th/10th play-off), Old Hararians
PNG 200 all out, 48.2 overs (Tony Ura 49, Chad Soper 40, Mahuru Dai 34, Jason Kila 21, Charles Amini 21, Assad Vala 21; Kinchit Shah 4-10, Nadeem Ahmed 2-41, Ehsan Khan 2-43)
Hong Kong 142 all out, 35.2 overs (Babar Hayat 37, Anshuman Rath 24; Norman Vanua 4-24, Charles Amini 4-27)
Player of the Match – Charles Amini (PNG)
Fixtures for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday:
- Sunday, 18 March – Ireland v Scotland (S6), Harare Sports Club; Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson (on-field), Gregory Brathwaite (third umpire), Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire), Devdas Govindjee (match referee)
- Monday, 19 March – Windies v Zimbabwe (S6), Harare Sports Club; Michael Gough and Simon Fry (on-field), Adrian Holdstock (third umpire), Paul Wilson (fourth umpire), Graeme La Brooy (match referee)
- Tuesday, 20 March – UAE v Afghanistan (S6), Old Hararians; Gregory Brathwaite and Adrian Holdstock (on-field), Joel Wilson (reserve umpire), David Jukes (match referee)
Super Six points table
| TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | TIED | POINTS | NNR |
| Zimbabwe | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.727 |
| Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.588 |
| Windies | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0.666 |
| Ireland | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.465 |
| Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -0.023 |
| UAE | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -2.493 |
