The fast bowling pair of Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder shared seven wickets between them as West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 31 runs in a must-win Group B match in the first round of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at the Bellerive Oval to keep their hopes alive of making the Super 12 stage.

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After posting 153/7 in 20 overs, West Indies had a faulty start as Zimbabwe’s stand-in skipper Regis Chakabva struck three boundaries in an 18-run opening over off Kyle Mayers. Joseph, who claimed career-best figures of 4/14, struck with his second ball as Chakabva played back onto his stumps.

Wesley Madhevere smashed two fours and a six in his 19-ball 27, but lost partners from the other end as Joseph dislodged Tony Munyonga’s stumps with a quick yorker while Obed McCoy had Sean Williams playing a drive and edging behind to the keeper. Holder, who bowled excellently to take 3/12, got Madhevere out as he sliced to backward point timing a catch to perfection.

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The game turned around when in-form Sikandar Raza mistimed his shot over the off-side to mid-off off Odean Smith in the eighth over. Despite some resistance from Ryan Burl (17) and Luke Jongwe (29), Zimbabwe crashed to 122 all out in 18.2 overs, handing the West Indies a much-needed victory in the mega event.

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Brief Scores

West Indies 153/7 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 45, Rovman Powell 28; Sikandar Raza 3/19, Blessing Muzarabani 2/38)

Zimbabwe 122 all out in 18.2 overs (Luke Jongwe 29, Wesley Madhevere 27; Alzarri Joseph 4/16, Jason Holder 3/12)