Zimbabwe women’s cricket team was on the receiving end of a comprehensive defeat by the Dutch in their first game of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers at the Netherlands at the Krira Shikkha Protisthan Ground in Bangladesh yesterday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Zimbabwe never really settled as they lost three wickets in the first 10 overs on their way to posting an easily attainable 145 runs in their allotted 50 overs.
Zimbabwe struggled to build any decent partnerships with wicketkeeper batsman Nonhlanhla Nyathi top scoring with 29 runs while Sinikiwe Ncube chipped in with 21 runs.
Netherlands’ right-arm off-spinner Ester Lancer was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 17 runs in her allotted 10 overs while seamer Kerry-Anne Tomlinson and left-arm spinner Leonie Kelly Bennett chipped in with two wickets apiece.
While the Zimbabwean bowlers might have fancied their chances of defending their measly score, in the end it proved to be nowhere near enough as the Dutch powered their way to the target in less than 26 overs and for the loss of four wickets.
Netherlands opening batsman Miranda Veringmeier laid the platform with a cracking run-a-ball 47 while Tomlinson, who had earlier taken two wickets, continued her impressive display with an unbeaten 56 off 55 balls.
Zimbabwe who have never qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup, play their next match against Sri Lanka at the same venue on Thursday before playing the US at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, the next day.
Zimbabwe conclude their group matches with a tough tie against South Africa at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Fatullah, on November 20 and by then they should know if they would have progressed to the next stage.
