As the West Indies, a longtime favourites, are defeated, Harare breaks into a jig.

https://dancesportinggood.blogspot.com/

 Super Saturday. It's one of sports' most marketable catchphrases; but sometimes, it's spot on. Today was one of those days.

In Harare, as the race to the World Cup became more intense, something incredible unfolded in the two-and-a-half hours after Netherlands' win over Nepal, which helped them secure their spot in the Super Sixes; something that could see Zimbabwe into the main event, and they will have this afternoon to thank for it.

Let's first reflect on the previous week. In their opening World Cup qualifier, Zimbabwe had let up 290 against Nepal before chasing it down. They then conceded 315 against the Netherlands and were pursued for that as well. They demonstrated over the course of three days that anything was possible in Harare, where the outfield is quick and the surface is flat.

So even if their hearts may have fallen on Saturday against the West Indies when they were assigned to bat first and could only produce 268 runs, something in their spirits still fly. There is no alternative reason for the Harare Sports Club's (HSC) performance.

The HSC was completely full around 11.30 a.m. local time, but people kept showing up. Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl's cooperation was growing at the moment. On the rugby pitch next to the stadium, a fan park with a giant screen was constructed. By the afternoon, it had become very congested, and even as West Indies began to respond forcefully, people kept arriving.

By that time, West Indies was already aware that Zimbabwe would proceed to the Super Sixes as a result of Zimbabwe's victory against Netherlands earlier in the week and in accordance with the rules of the competition. But the supporters were more interested in the two more points they may earn versus West Indies because of who they would face rather than merely the fact that points are important.