Papua New Guinea Women – 83 all out in 18 overs (Tanya Ruma 25, Naoani Vare 10, Hollan Doriga 9; Kelis Ndlovu 3/9, Nomvelo Sibanda 2/9, Precious Marange 2/10)
Zimbabwe Women – 87-2 in 14.4 overs (Sharne Mayers 33, Kelis Ndlovu 25*, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 20; Kaia Arua 2/21)
Zimbabwe Women won by eight wickets
Zimbabwe Women cantered to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG) Women in their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 match played at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 84, they crossed the line with 32 deliveries to spare thanks to an opening stand of 57 in 8.3 overs between Sharne Mayers and Kelis Ndlovu.
Sharne was one of the only two Zimbabwe Women wickets to fall, caught by Vicky Araa off the bowling of Kaia Arua having made 33, with five fours, off 28 balls.
The same combination then dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, but by then she had hit three fours on her way to 20 off 25 deliveries, departing at 82 for two after 14.2 overs, with two more runs required to win.
Modester Mupachikwa came in, faced two balls and blasted a four to take the total to 87 for two and Zimbabwe Women home by a comfortable eight wickets.
PNG Women had won the toss and opted to bat first, but just five balls into their innings they suffered a blow when Sibona Jimmy was caught at the wicket for two off Nomvelo Sibanda’s bowling, with only four runs on the board.
Naoani Vare and Tanya Ruma took the score to 17 before, in the fourth over, Josephine Nkomo trapped Vare lbw for 10, which came off 15 balls with two fours.
In the next over, Sibanda struck again to remove Brenda Tau (3) lbw with only three runs added to the total.
Arua took seven balls to score a single before Precious Marange had her caught by the wicketkeeper, Mupachikwa, and then in her next over the same bowler had Pauke Siaka’s furniture rearranged for eight, reducing PNG Women to 41 for five in the 10th over.
Within the next seven overs, they were down to 76 for eight after Ndlovu struck three times, claiming the scalps of Hollan Doriga (9), Ravina Oa (9) and Ruma for 25, their highest individual contribution with the bat which came off 35 balls and included one six and one four.
In the 18 over, PNG Women suffered a double blow that brought their innings to a close for 83 – first, Loreen Tshuma had Araa caught by Pellagia Mujaji for a single before, next ball, Sibanda and Mupachikwa combined to run out Mairi Tom for a golden duck, leaving Isabel Toua unbeaten on eight.
Ndlovu was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 18 runs in her four overs, while Marange was the most economical as she took two for 10 in as many overs.
For her knock of 31 off 28 balls, Mayers was named the player of the match.
In their next fixture, Zimbabwe Women will face Thailand Women on Monday before completing their Group B programme against the United Arab Emirates Women on Wednesday.
