With Zimbabwe already in the Super Six and USA already eliminated, this was something of a dead rubber. But Zimbabwe certainly weren't on cruise control as they thumped the USA by 304 runs at the Harare Sports Club.

Put into bat despite the USA missing Ali Khan through an illness that is ravaging their squad and Kyle Phillip after he was suspended from bowling in international cricket. Joylord Gumbie and Innocent Kaia started by putting on 56 before the latter was out, and the runs just kept coming.

Gumbie and Sean Williams put on 160 for the second wicket before Gumbie was out for 78 - his maiden ODI fifty - with Williams bringing up his century from just 65 balls - the second fastest for Zimabwe in ODIs - shortly before Gumbie's dismissal.

Drinks were taken after Gumbie's dismissal with Zimbabwe on 216-2 after 35 overs. But the real carnage was still to come. Sikander Raza scored 48 from 27 balls whiilst Ryan Burl clubbed 47 from just 16 deliveries. Williams reached 174 before he was out six balls from the end of the innings, one run short of equalling Calum MacLeod's record for the highest score in a men's World Cup Qualifier game.

Ryan Burl who hit 46 from just 16 deliveries in the game. (ICC/Getty Images)

Zimbabwe's final total was 408-6, the first time a team had scored over 400 in a 50-over men's World Cup Qualifier match - all higher scores came in 60-over contests. It was also the first time Zimbabwe had passed 400 in ODIs.

USA's reply - and their tournament so far - was perhaps best summed up by two identical run outs that happened within three balls in the tenth over. For both the non-striker called for a run only for Gajanand Singh to remain unmoved at his end as the fielders whipped the bails off.

When a third run out ended it all 15 overs later, USA had scored just 104. The 304 margin of defeat has only been beaten by India's 317 run rout of Sri Lanka in January.

Zimbabwe will next play on Thursday with a Super Six match against Oman, the first time the sides have met in an official match. USA have a few days to recover from their illnesses and today's defeat before their 7th place play-off semi-final against either Ireland or UAE.