West Indies beat Zimbabwe; all set to qualify for 2019 World Cup

West Indies edged closer to a place in the 2019 World Cup when they defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in the latest qualifying match today.

Chasing 290 to win, the two-time champions reached their target with six balls to spare after surviving a worrying mid-innings collapse.

WINDIES WIN

Victory by 4 wickets over Zimbabwe

Details: https://t.co/0JnzYbXQtj
Watch: @ESPN_Caribbean #CWCQ #RALLY pic.twitter.com/wunmEMTJH6

— CricketWestIndies (@westindies) March 19, 2018

The West Indies lead the Super Sixes qualifying table with six points but will still need to avoid defeat against Scotland on Wednesday in their last pool match to be sure of a place in next year's finals.

Zimbabwe, on five points, can still make the 2019 World Cup by beating the UAE on Thursday although the Scots, Ireland and Afghanistan all remain in contention for a spot in the showpiece in England and Wales.

Brendan Taylor top scored for Zimbabwe with 138 which included 20 boundaries and two sixes.

So the Windies take one step closer to #CWC19 while Zimbabwe's quest will come down to their final match.

Samuels, Hope and Lewis hit half centuries as Zimbabwe’s 289 is chased with 6 balls spare, West Indies win by 4 wickets!#WIvZIM scorecard ➡ https://t.co/UIdlKIWGHE pic.twitter.com/i2gz3exVIX

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 19, 2018

For the West Indies, Marlon Samuels smashed 86 off 80 balls with four sixes while Evin Lewis and Shai Hope also contributed half centuries.

Marlon Samuels was on fire as Windies beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets in Super Six at Harare SC

He smashed a big Six and smashed a window too! He was named Man of the Match for a brilliant knock of 86 off 80 balls#CWCQ #RALLY pic.twitter.com/MGhHSfGYVs

— CricketWestIndies (@westindies) March 20, 2018

Brief scores:

Zimbabwe 289 all out in 50 overs (B. Taylor 138; J. Holder 4-35) v West Indies 290-6 in 49 overs (M. Samuels 86, S. Hope 76, E. Lewis 64) West Indies won by four wickets.