ZIMBABWE’S women’s cricket team got their campaign at the ICC Africa Regional Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers in Tanzania off to a good start with a victory over the hosts in their first match on Monday.
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According to the Tanzania Daily News, Zimbabwe laboured to a five-run win against the hosts at the Annadil Burhani venue in Dar es Salaam.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat before setting a paltry target of 80 runs for the loss of nine wickets from their allotted 20 overs.
Josephine Nkomo top-scored for Zimbabwe with 19 runs from 32 balls and managed one boundary while Pellagia Mujaji chipped in with 17 runs from 20 balls before being run out.
Wicket takers for Tanzania were M Swedi who took three wickets for 10 runs from three overs, while Mwanaidi Ibrahim and Hadija Nassib both claimed two wickets each.
Zimbabwe’s paltry score gave the Tanzanians some belief in themselves and they came very close to shocking their more fancied opponents.
However, Zimbabweans overwhelmed Tanzanian by taking a crucial wicket of skipper Monica Paschal at the opening ball for duck.
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Middle order batswoman Saida Khamis as usual took a leading role when she blasted 28 runs in 40 balls she faced, to keep the home side afloat. She was bowled by Sarah Dambanevana.
The second highest scorer for the home side was Fatima Kibusa with nine runs as the Tanzanians capitalised on eleven extra runs. All-rounder,Mujaji was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe with two wickets for 10 runs.
Zimbabwe were expected to play two matches yesterday, the first against Uganda at the University of Dar es Salaam and the second match against Kenya at the Annadil.
The top-two placed teams after the competition will represent Africa in the inaugural World Cup championship to be staged in Ireland at a date and venue to be announced later by the ICC.
However, South Africa has already qualified and only one slot is left with the rest of the teams scrambling for it in Dar es Salaam.
