Zimbabwe Women – 152-2 in 20 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 75*, Mary-Anne Musonda 56, Kelis Ndlovu 9; Surashka Kotte 1/15 Kavisha Edogage 1/29)
United Arab Emirates Women – 105-9 in 20 overs (Theertha Satish 39, Chaya Mughal 19, Khushi Sharma 6; Loryn Phiri 3/8, Josephine Nkomo 2/13, Kelis Ndlovu 2/14)
Zimbabwe Women won by 47 runs
Modester Mupachikwa and Mary-Anne Musonda scored brilliant half-centuries to set Zimbabwe Women up for a comfortable 47-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Women in Dubai on Monday, making it two wins in as many games for them in the Women’s T20I Quadrangular Series.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Zimbabwe Women recovered from the loss within the first six overs of Kelis Ndovu (9) and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (3), with 25 runs on the board, to close their innings with a healthy total of 152 in 20 overs without suffering any further damage.
Mupachikwa and Musonda contributed 109 runs together in a partnership that lasted 13.2 overs and only ended when Musonda retired hurt at 134 for two after scoring an excellent 56, with one six and five fours, off 38 balls.
With Pellagia Mujaji coming in to make two not out, Mupachikwa easily saw the innings out with a magnificent unbeaten 75 that came off 62 deliveries and included 12 fours.
The daunting target proved too steep for the UAE Women, although opening batter Theertha Satish gave a good account of herself with a fighting innings of 39, scored off 30 balls with six fours.
Apart from her, captain Chaya Mughal was their only other batter to make it into double figures with 19 off 24 balls.
The UAE Women could only score 105 for nine wickets in their reply, giving Zimbabwe Women a comfortable victory by 47 runs.
Loryn Phiri was the star bowler with three wickets for eight runs off three overs, while Josephine Nkomo and Ndlovu were equally impressive with two scalps apiece for 13 and 14 runs respectively.
Mupachikwa was named player of the match and she was naturally elated about her performance.
“I am excited about my performance because I was struggling at the start,” she said.
“It’s all thanks to Mary-Anne that I settled in and the partnership that we had boosted my confidence.
“We had lost two early wickets but my teammates helped us because they were very supportive.”
Zimbabwe Women and the UAE Women are using the series to prepare for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 that gets underway in Abu Dhabi on 18 September.
The two teams are in Group B of the qualifying tournament alongside Papua New Guinea Women and Thailand Women.
Zimbabwe Women are facing Thailand Women in their final game of the quadrangular series in Dubai this Tuesday.
