The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda in Harare
Zimbabwe women 36-0 3.4 overs (Ndiraya 17, Mayers 13) beat Nigeria Women 35 all out 12.5 overs (Nwobodo 12, Mutasa 4/9, Mushangwe 2/8, Sibanda 1/9) by 10 wickets with 98 balls remaining
ZIMBABWE warmed up for today’s final in the International Cricket Council Women’s Qualifier Africa against Namibia with a rampant display against Nigeria at Old Hararians Sports Club, a match they won by 10 wickets with a massive 98 balls to spare yesterday.
Pace bowler Nomatter Mutasa picked up four wickets for just nine runs in four overs while leg spinner Anesu Mushangwe took two for eight as Zimbabwe obliterated Nigeria for 35 in just 12.1 overs. Zimbabwe went on to chase down the target in 3.4 overs, with their opening pair of
Ashley Ndiraya and Sharne Mayers seeing them over the line with a considerable amount of overs not used up.
Zimbabwe bowler Anesu Mushangwe celebrates a wicket in action during a World Cup Cricket Qualifier match played with Nigeria at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare, May 11 2019.
Nigeria won the toss, chose to bat and looked on course to post a competitive total when they had 17 runs in the opening three overs of the match. They went on to lose 10 wickets for just 18 runs with the Zimbabwean bowlers at their best.
Mutasa was just unplayable and at some stage took two wickets with consecutive deliveries but missed out on a hat trick. Mushangwe joined in the party with two wickets for eight in four overs and had one maiden while Nomvelo Sibanda picked up one wicket.
Zimbabwe players celebrate a wicket in action during a World Cup Cricket Qualifier match played with Nigeria at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare, May 11 2019.
Ndiraya and Mayers ensured that Zimbabwe crossed over the line with no wickets lost when they knocked off the required runs in no time.
Lady Chevrons coach Adam Chifo was pleased with his team’s victory over Nigeria. What impressed Chifo is that whatever strategy they have employed from the start of the tournament has worked.
“We are not underestimating any team otherwise very good convincing for us, bowling out a team for 35 and winning by 10 wickets, we would take that any day. We haven’t changed any strategy from game one, whatever we have planned seems to be working,’’ Chifo said.
Zimbabwe square off against Namibia at Harare Sports Club this morning with the winner of the match securing the African ticket to the global qualifiers to be held in Scotland in September. Chifo declared that they are ready to face Namibia, a team they whitewashed 5-0 in the Namib Desert T20 Women Challenge in Walvis Bay at the beginning of the year.
Lady Chevrons skipper indicated that they would love to play a calculated game with the team eager to win the match and proceed to the global event.
