The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE continued with their fine form at the International Cricket Council Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Africa Qualifier when they thrashed Eswatini by 10 wickets at the Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1 in Gaborone yesterday.
It was the second win for the Zimbabwean women at the tournament after they defeated Tanzania by six wickets on Friday.
Eswatini could only manage a miserable 17 runs in 9.2 overs and Zimbabwe chased down the target of 18 in two overs to win with a massive 108 balls to spare.
The seven extras given away by the Zimbabwean bowlers were the biggest contribution to Eswatini’s score of 17. Ntombizini Gwebu was the highest run scorer for Eswatini with six from eight balls. So terrible were Eswatini that six of their batters were dismissed for ducks.
Right arm medium pace bowler, Esther Mbofana picked up six wickets for 11 runs in her four overs to walk away with the Player of the Match award on her Twenty20 International debut.
Off spinner Loryn Phiri followed up her figures of 4/12 in the win over Tanzania with three wickets for one run to take her tournament tally to seven while left arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda had one wicket for two runs.
Zimbabwean openers, Precious Marange and Modester Mupachikwa knocked off the required runs in just two overs as the Lady Chevrons, the defending champions in the tournament they won at home in 2019 recorded yet another comprehensive victory.
Next up for the Mary-Anne Musonda-captained Zimbabwe is a date with Botswana in a top of the table clash this morning. Tomorrow, Zimbabwe face off with Mozambique before they round off their group stage against Rwanda on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe men’s team heads into battle against Ireland in the third and final One Day International at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, Northern Ireland with a chance to win the series. Zimbabwe won the opening match of the three-match series by 38 runs last Wednesday before the second encounter produced a no result on Friday.
Ireland had posted daunting 282/8 in 50 overs but Zimbabwe did not get a chance to chase that score as rain forced an end to them match, which saw both teams collect five points apiece.
The five points saw Zimbabwe finally get off the bottom of the 13-team International Cricket Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. — Follow on Twitter @Mdawini_29.
