THE Zimbabwe senior women's cricket team will look to dry up runs and force their way back into the series when they face Pakistan in the second T20I today, after a 153-run defeat in the opening match at the National Stadium on Tuesday exposed key areas for development.
Pakistan elected to bat after winning the toss and posted 237/5 in 20 overs. The innings was powered by an unbeaten 102 off 47 balls from Ayesha Zafar, which included 15 fours and two sixes. Aliya Riaz added 48 from 23 balls, and opener Gull Feroza contributed 37 off 19.
Zimbabwe’s reply ended at 84 all out in 18.2 overs. The team lost five wickets in the powerplay and were 16/5 after 4.3 overs. By the 10th over, they had six wickets down, before a partial recovery to 46/6 after 9.1 overs.
Opener Natasha Mtomba top-scored with 24 off 20 deliveries in her first match of the series. Adel Zimunu made 18 from 34 balls before being run out, while Beloved Biza added 10.
Fatima Sana led Pakistan’s bowling with 3/7 from three overs. Natalia Pervaiz and Sadia Iqbal took two wickets each.
Captain Nomvelo Sibanda picked up 2/59 in four overs, going at 14.75 an over. Spinners Beloved Biza, 1/33 in four, and Precious Marange, 1/39 in four, bowled their full quotas.
Technical director Steve Mangongo said the team must adapt to batting-friendly conditions.
“On these batting flat pitches, the margin of error is small; we need to bowl without giving the fuller length deliveries as they got severe punishment,” Mangongo told NewsDay Sport.
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“The spinners fought a good fight with the ball; that was a positive.”
The no-nonsense gaffer noted the early collapse with the bat as Zimbabwe's Achilles heel.
“Disappointingly, we capitulated in the powerplay by losing group wickets to a very disciplined Pakistan attack. Lessons learnt are to look to hit the ball more in the straight areas,” he added.
“Indeed, these wickets have been excellent for batting. We have to be positive in the powerplay; however, playing fewer aerial shots will present better opportunities to score competitively.”
On Pakistan’s attack, Mangongo said the team is inundated with experienced and quality cricketers.
“Fatima is a very experienced cricketer, and the two opening batters are technically correct. We need to dry up the runs and force them to play big high-risk shots,” he said.
He praised individual efforts by Zimbabwean players, particularly Mtomba.
“Natasha Mtomba, who opened batting for us and had the first game of the series, batted with calmness for her 24, and the spinners department absorbed the pressure well in the middle periods,” Mangongo said.
“We must keep improving game by game.”
Zimbabwe trail 1-0 in the three-match series ahead of today's second T20I in Karachi. The third and final match is slated for tomorrow.
