Home side Zimbabwe outclassed inspired Nepal before West Indies edged USA on the opening day of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) Qualifier.
In the first match of the CWC Qualifier, hosts Zimbabwe handed a thrashing eight-wicket defeat to Nepal, who raised 290/8 after being put into bat first.
Nepal openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh scripted a flying start for the Asian side with an opening 171-run partnership.
Aasif Sheikh scored 66 off 100 deliveries before Wellington Masakadza got the much-needed breakthrough for his side in the 32nd over.
In his next over, Masakadza then got the prized wicket of Kushal Bhurtel, who had a heartbreaking end to his brilliant knock as he fell just one short of his century.
Kushal Bhurtel top-scored 99 off just 95 deliveries, laced up with 13 boundaries and two sixes.
Kushal Malla (41) and skipper Rohit Paudel (31) added valuable runs to the team’s total.
Richard Ngarava led the bowling attack for Zimbabwe with 4/43, followed by Masakadza’s 2/42.
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Set to chase 291, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams scored centuries which paved the way for a comfortable pursuit.
Ervine top-scored with a 128-ball 121 which featured 15 boundaries and a six.
Williams made a brisk 102 from 70 balls with the help of 13 boundaries and a six.
In another CWC Qualifier match, West Indies edged the spirited USA by 39 runs.
Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Roston Chase and Jason Holder all scored half-centuries and powered West Indies to 297 before bundling out in the final over.
Set to chase 298, the USA could only raise 258/7 in the allotted 50 overs despite a fighting century from Gajanand Singh.
Singh smashed eight boundaries and two sixes on his way to a 109-ball 101.
Alzarri Joseph and Kyle Mayers bagged two wickets each while Jason Holder and Roston Chase made one scalp each.