Zimbabwe Women – 113 all out in 40.2 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 29, Josephine Nkomo 17, Pellagia Mujaji 15; Shabnim Ismail 4/14, Masabata Klaas 2/12, Sune Luus 2/24)
South Africa Women – 114-3 in 21.2 overs (Andrie Steyn 22, Mignon du Preez 22*, Trisha Chetty 19; Tasmeen Granger 1/19, Nomatter Mutasa 1/23)
South Africa Women won by seven wickets
South Africa Women today eased to a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe Women in a women’s quadrangular tournament match played at the North-West University in Potchefstroom.
The Zimbabweans, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were skittled for 113 within 41 overs.
Modester Mupachikwa top-scored with a knock of 29 that came off 49 deliveries, three of which she hit to the boundary.
Apart from her, only three other Zimbabwe batters managed to get into double figures – Josephine Nkomo made 17, Pellagia Mujaji 15 and the captain Sharne Mayers 13.
For the second match running, Mary-Anne Musonda, the heroine of Zimbabwe’s famous win over Ireland last week, failed to get off the mark.
Former captain Chipo Mugeri was also dismissed for a duck, while the usually reliable Precious Marange could only manage nine runs, including two boundaries, before she perished.
Fast-medium bowler Shabnim Ismail, South Africa’s women’s all-time leading international wicket-taker, was Zimbabwe’s tormentor-in-chief with four for 14 in 7.2 overs.
Masabata Klaas and Sune Luus picked up two wickets each as the hosts bundled out their less experienced neighbours for 113 with over nine overs remaining.
South Africa comfortably chased down the target within 22 overs to win the match by seven wickets.
Zimbabwe claimed the wickets of Lizelle Lee (17), Andrie Steyn (22) and Trisha Chetty (19), but unfortunately they had failed to muster a defendable total against one of the world’s best sides in women’s cricket.
Mignon du Preez and Marizanne Kapp wrapped up the comprehensive victory with unbeaten scores of 22 and 16 respectively.
The three South African wickets that fell were each taken by Tasmeen Granger, Nomatter Mutasa and Nomvelo Sibanda.
Zimbabwe’s next match in the quadrangular series will be against Ireland at the same venue on Wednesday.
