Powell's window-smashing century sends West Indies into Super Six as UAE fate left to final match

A 52-run win over Ireland sends the two-time World Cup winners through to the next stage of the tournament in Zimbabwe

Rovman Powell in action during his century for the West Indies against Ireland on Saturday. Courtesy ICC
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Rovman Powell’s first one-day international century for West Indies included seven sixes, seven fours, and one smashed window.

It also laid the platform for a 52-run win over Ireland that confirmed his side as being the third team through to the Super Six stage of the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

The 24-year-old Jamaican went to three figures with a brutal straight hit that shattered a window pane of the second-floor press room at Harare Sports Club.

While it was his first ton in the maroon of West Indies, it was far from the first time he had damaged the facilities, he said.

“To be honest, I’ve smashed a few windows before, and I smashed a few when I made my debut against Sri Lanka [in 2016] on this very ground,” Powell said. “It is a pleasure playing here. It brings back good memories playing here.”

Powell had arrived at the wicket with West Indies in trouble on 83-5. Thanks to him and Jason Holder, who made a second half-century in successive games, they were able to post 257-8.

Ireland had looked well placed in the chase at 166-4, but crumbled after Ed Joyce fell for 63, as Kesrick Williams took four wickets.

“We shouldn’t be losing by 50 runs from that position,” Joyce said. “We still know if we win the rest of our games we will get [a place at the World Cup]. We have to beat UAE first. This wasn’t the be all and end all.”

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Much still rests on the final round of group matches on Monday. The UAE will definitely advance to the Super Six, and secure a notable financial windfall by retaining one-day international status in the process, if they beat Ireland.

They would still go through if the Netherlands lose to West Indies on the same day. The Dutch gave themselves one last shot at progressing to the next phase as they beat Papua New Guinea at Old Hararians.

Because of the remarkably complex permutations at play in the Qualifier, PNG knew before play they would actually have been better served financially by losing the fixture.

PNG were already out of the running for a place in the second phase, meaning they potentially face two classification matches to safeguard their ODI status.

For them to do that, they need two out of UAE, Scotland, Nepal or Hong Kong to finish below them.

Scotland were the first team to qualify for the Super Sixes, while Hong Kong seem well placed to follow them, at Afghanistan’s expense in Group B.

As such, if Netherlands and Afghanistan are forced into the classification matches, PNG would definitely lose their ODI status. Despite that, they clearly played to win against the Dutch – only to lose out by 57 runs anyway.

In Group B, Afghanistan kept their hopes of making it to the World Cup just about alive with a hefty, six-wicket win over Nepal. They now have to hope Nepal beat Hong Kong in the last group match of they are to make it through.

Much to the delight of a packed home crowd in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe became the second side through to the Super Six as they beat Hong Kong by 89 runs.