Sean Williams hit 174 off 101 balls as Zimbabwe crushed the USA by 304 runs at the World Cup qualifiers on Monday, the second biggest winning margin in terms of runs in ODI history.

Hosts Zimbabwe made their highest ODI total with a mammoth 408-6 off 50 overs and then bowled out the Americans for just 104 to seal a fourth straight win in Group A.

They narrowly missed breaking the record for the biggest margin of victory in an ODI, set at the start of the year when India thrashed Sri Lanka by 317 runs in Thiruvananthapuram.

“It was a fantastic wicket. The way we started out there, it was a little slow, so we thought if we could pick the intensity up against the spinners, we could see where we go from there,” said Williams.

Zimbabwe advance to the Super Six stage as group winners and carry through four points, well placed to secure a spot at the October-November tournament in India.

“We have found our momentum and we are looking forward to carrying it,” added Williams.

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Wicketkeeper Joylord Gumbie struck a steady 78 at the top of the order but Williams played the starring role as Zimbabwe stepped on the accelerator once the stand-in captain arrived at the crease.

Williams hit 21 fours and five sixes before he was caught in the deep in the penultimate over, with Sikandar Raza scoring 48 off 27 balls and Ryan Burl hammering 47 off just 16 deliveries.

Only three USA batsmen reached double figures as Richard Ngarava and Raza both took two wickets while three run outs compounded a dismal performance from the Americans.

© Agence France-Presse