<p>In their opening Group A match of the ODI World Cup Qualifiers for 2023, West Indies defeated the USA by 39 runs at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on Sunday. This was despite lower-order batsman Gajanand Singh’s outstanding 101 not out off 109 balls, which gave the Caribbean team a scare.</p>
<p>Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, and Jason Holder all scored fifty runs for the West Indies, who were bowled out for 297 by the USA. Captain Shai Hope and wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran also played well.<img decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”alignnone wp-image-30205″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/www.theindiaprint.com-odi-world-cup-qualifier-despite-gajanan-singhs-unbeaten-century-west-indies-defeated-usa-by-39-runs-download-2023-06-19t143646.020.jpg” alt=”” width=”1289″ height=”1937″ /></p>
<p>Three wickets were taken by Saurabh Netravalkar, Steven Taylor, and Kyle Phillip for the USA to somewhat offset the absence of major bowler Ali Khan owing to an ICC ban. However, despite having four opportunities to take risks, the USA fielders failed to step up and support the bowlers.</p>
<p>When they got the ball to jiggle about and began to quiz the West Indies hitters, the USA’s opening new-ball combo of Netravalkar and Phillip proved to be useful.</p>
<p>The West Indies lost their openers inside the first six overs, therefore the pair each earned one. At 15/2, the situation for West Indies seemed hopeless, but captain Hope teamed up with Charles to put up a key 115-run partnership for the third wicket that turned the tide and stabilized the innings.</p>
<p>Before the 25-over point, both hitters had achieved their half-centuries as West Indies reached 121/2. But following that, Hope was bowled out for 54 by Nosthush Kenjige in the 27th over after misfiring on a ball that was aimed towards the cover sweeper.</p>
<p>Taylor brought Charles on hole 66, who skied one into short third man, to his demise in the very next over. The West Indies innings was then rebuilt by Chase and Pooran working together. Chase managed to keep the innings together from the other end as West Indies reached 187/4 in 35 overs while Pooran was being his normal free-flowing self.</p>
<p>Part-timer Taylor, who bowled for the USA, fought back and claimed two wickets in the 36th over: Pooran (43 from 28), and Rovman Powell (0). Then Jason Holder led them in their search for a total that was almost 300, with a furious knock of 56 off 40, but they were finally bowled out for 297.</p>
<p>Sushant Modani and Steven Taylor combined 35 runs for the first wicket in the USA’s response before the former was caught at third man off a Holder ball in the eighth over.</p>
<p>Mayers removed Taylor (18) in the very next over. When Monank Patel and Saiteja Mukkamalla fell in consecutive overs, leaving the team at 55/4 in 13.4 overs, USA’s hopes were severely damaged.</p>
<p>Gajanand, though, attacked the West Indies bowlers after entering the batting order at number six. Together with Aaron Jones, they contributed 42 runs for the fifth wicket. As the USA reached 106/5 at the halfway point of the chase, the stand was broken when Jones was run out in the 21st over.</p>
<p>Before Shayan Jahangir was bowled by Alzarri Joseph, Gajanand and Shayan Jahangir contributed 58 runs off 83 balls for the sixth wicket. The West Indies victory seemed certain after Shayan was out since the run rate had risen beyond 10.</p>
<p>Gajanand and Kenjige, though, put up a 76-run partnership for the eighth wicket and stayed undefeated till the game’s conclusion. Gajanand also reached his first ODI century in the game’s penultimate over, scoring 101 not out, but it wasn’t enough to give West Indies the victory, who were relieved to come out on top.</p>
<p>Brief ratings:</p>
<p>Johnson Charles scored 66, Jason Holder had 56, Saurabh Netravalkar had 3/53, and Steven Taylor had 3-53 for West Indies in their 297-run victory.</p>
<p>by 39 runs, USA 258/7 in 50 overs (Gajanand Singh 101 unbeaten, Kyle Mayers 2-30, Alzarri Joseph 2-68)</p>
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