ZIMBABWE Women cricket team crashed out of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier at the group stage after losing their final Group B match by 14 runs against Netherlands Women at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, yesterday.
The Lady Chevrons needed to win against the Dutch to stand a chance to progress to the semifinal.
After batting first upon winning the toss, the Dutch totalled 135/6 in their 20 overs powered by Babette de Leede's 37 off 40 balls.
She walked away with the player of the match gong batting at number three. Robine Rijke was unbeaten on 39 off 25 balls complementing De Leede and opener Sterre Kalis' magnificent work upfront.
For Zimbabwe, Francisca Chipare picked two wickets for 27 in four overs with Josephine Nkomo and Sharne Mayers taking a wicket each.
Zimbabwe got off to the worst possible start during their chase, losing three wickets for 30 runs in the powerplay.
Mayers was out for five runs after 1.2 overs, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano perished for nine two balls before the end of the fourth over while skipper Mary-Anne Musonda departed for eight runs leaving the locals trembling on 29/3 inside the opening 5.3 overs.
Ashley Ndiraya was sent back to the pavilion for three runs after 7.1 overs leaving opener Modester Mupachikwa and Nkomo to patch up the holes. Their gallant fight took them to within an arm’s stretch to winning the match needing 20 runs off the last over but managed only six. Both finished unbeaten on identical 39 runs, Mupachikwa off 44 balls and Nkomo with 41 deliveries.
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The news of their defeat coupled with the death of seamer Nomvelo Sibanda’s mother further dampened the already somber mood in the Lady Chevrons’ camp.
“Zimbabwe Cricket [ZC] is deeply saddened to learn Zimbabwe Women’s team bowler Nomvelo Sibanda has lost her mother, Siphilamanzi Ndlovu. She passed on this Wednesday [yesterday] at the United Bulawayo Hospitals in Bulawayo at the age of 50,” ZC said in a statement.
