Zimbabwe’s Sarah Dambanevana wrote her own piece of history after standing in the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup between India and England at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Sunday.
The 32-year-old former Zimbabwe women’s cricket team bowler had already made history at the start of the competition when she became the first local female cricket umpire to officiate in a major competition.
Dambanevana went a step further on Sunday after standing in the final which was won by India and was joined by Candace LaBorde of Trinidad & Tobago in the middle.
The pair were part of an all-female cast of match officials for the Women’s U19 World Cup final which was named by the ICC.
The duo of Dambanevana and LaBorde were joined by the fourth umpire Lisa McCabe and the television umpire Debunu De Silva. The match referee was Venessa De Silva.
Dambavenana’s historic feat at the ICC Women’s U19 World Cup comes she broke new ground locally when she became the first female to officiate in a domestic final during last season’s Fifty50 Challenge. She was accompanied by another local umpire Percival Sizara as the other on-field umpire in March last year.
Seven months later in October, she made more history by standing in her first List A match between Rhinos and Alliance Health Eagles at Kwekwe Sports Club.
History 👏🏻👏🏻
Former #LadyChevrons 🇿🇼@zimbabwewomen bowler Sarah Dambanevana is standing in the inaugural #U19T20WorldCup Final! @BCCIWomen🇮🇳 all set to create history as England bowled out for 68 runs. Let’s go #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/u4di8mhzFx— Satendra Singh, MD (@drsitu) January 29, 2023