Zimbabwe Women – 143-3 in 20 overs (Sharne Mayers 65, Modester Mupachikwa 30, Mary-Anne Musonda 19; Monica Pascal 2/20, Perice Mamunya 1/14)
Tanzania Women – 51-8 in 20 overs (Getrude Mushi 16*, Tabu Omary 10, Zinaida Finkili 8*; Anesu Mushangwe 2/3, Tasmeen Granger 2/6, Audrey Mazvishaya 2/15)
Zimbabwe Women won by 92 runs
Sharne Mayers was again the leading figure as Zimbabwe Women recorded a resounding victory in the ICC Women’s Qualifier Africa 2019, beating Tanzania by 92 runs at Takashinga Cricket Club today.
She scored a fine innings of 65, which was more than what the whole of the inexperienced Tanzanian team was able to score, as the Zimbabwean bowlers had a field day.
This was Tanzania’s first match of the tournament, as they had a bye in the first round – in fact, it was the first official women’s T20 international in their history.
Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bat, opening with Modester Mupachikwa and Mayers as before.
It was soon evident that Tanzania are a stronger bowling side than Mozambique, but in the third over Mupachikwa was able to pull two inaccurate deliveries for four each.
Steady scoring brought up the team fifty in the 11th over, when both batsmen had 24, but later in the over Mayers was fortunate to be dropped by long-off, the ball bouncing off her hands for four.
Mayers was out to increase the scoring rate now, and in the next over pulled a short ball for six.
At 77, however, the fine partnership was broken as the batsmen risked a second run, only for Mupachikwa to be run out by a fine throw, having scored 29 off 39 balls; it was the 13th over.
Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, the wife to Zimbabwe international cricketer Donald Tiripano, came in next and immediately looked in good form.
A lofted off-drive for four brought Mayers her second successive fifty, coming off 40 balls.
Mugeri-Tiripano scored 15 off 13 balls before she tried to hit a six over long-off and was caught on the boundary; 99 for one.
Mary-Anne Musonda came in while Mayers brought up the team hundred in the 16th over.
She perished bravely in the 18th over, for 65, very well caught on the mid-wicket boundary aiming for another six; she faced 50 balls and hit eight fours and two sixes; 122 for three.
Josephine Nkomo came in for the final rush for runs at any price. In the final over Musonda hit a six over long leg, but was then caught on the boundary for 19 off 10 balls.
The innings closed after 20 overs at 143 for four wickets, with Nkomo on eight and Anesu Mushangwe one.
Zimbabwe would probably have hoped to score more runs with only four wickets down, but many runs were saved by good fielding.
Monica Pascal took the last two wickets to fall for 20 runs in two overs, but the best bowling was done by Perice Mamunya, who took one for 14 in her four overs.
Zimbabwe opened their bowling with Nkomo, who took a wicket in her first over with just a single on the board.
Pascal pulled a full toss to mid-wicket, where the fielder Precious Marange dived low to take a fine catch.
Tasmeen Granger opened the bowling at the other end and with her fifth ball took a sharp return catch as Fatuma Kibasu (1) drove the ball straight back to her; one run on the board for two wickets.
In her next over Granger struck again, trapping Humaa Omary lbw for three, with the total six.
Audrey Mazvishaya came on and took the next wicket by bowling Mamunya for six; she then knocked out Nameea Pius’ middle stump, to make the score 10 for five.
A mix-up led to the run-out of Nasra Saidi, sent back after looking for a risky single to Chiedza Dhururu; 13 for six.
Tabu Omary resisted bravely, naturally looking only to preserve the honour of her team rather than launch a hopeless attack, until after scoring 10 she drove a low catch to short extra cover off Mushangwe; 21 for seven in the 12th over.
Mushangwe also bowled Shufaa Mohamedi without scoring, but a no-ball from Granger brought a free ball, from which Getrude Mushi was able to hit a rare four.
This gave Mushi confidence to play some more strokes, and, although the pressure was off now, she and Zinaida Finkili more than doubled the score against Zimbabwe’s second-string bowlers, as most of the frontline bowlers had now completed their four overs.
Zimbabwe were in fact unable to take any more wickets, enabling Tanzania to avoid being bowled out and to finish with 51 for eight; Mushi had 16 off 35 balls and Finkili eight off 20.
Granger, Mazvishaya and Mushangwe all took two wickets, with Mushangwe’s figures the most remarkable as she conceded only three runs in her four overs.
Tanzania’s bowling and fielding had been fair enough, but they were let down by their disastrous top-order batting.
