's director of cricket Hamilton Masakadza says he is pleased with the positive strides made by the national women’s cricket ahead of their participation in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 which gets underway in UAE next week.){kind=link}
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)’s director of cricket Hamilton Masakadza says he is pleased with the positive strides made by the national women’s cricket ahead of their participation in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 which gets underway in UAE next week.
Fresh from completing a landmark T20 series win against the South Africa Women Emerging side in Pretoria, the Lady Chevrons completed a clean sweep against hosts UAE, USA and Thailand in a Quadrangular Series which ended on Tuesday.
The ever-improving Zimbabwe Women were at their best again on Tuesday after securing a three-wicket victory against a very strong Thailand side in what will be a major confidence boost ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
“I thought the girls were brilliant, when we played Thailand in Harare, they looked very competitive and ran us close quite a lot of the times but today I thought the ladies totally outplayed them,” Masakadza said in his assessment of the team’s performance against Ireland.
“In the end, it looked closer than what it was after we lost those wickets in a cluster at the end but the game was done and dusted about 10 overs into our batting innings.
Masakadza, who is in the UAE to show his support for the team revealed that he has been bowled over by the vast improvement they have shown over the past couple of months under head coach Gary Brent.
“There’s been a huge improvement, I love the energy on the field, the ladies are looking really slick, getting the ball in quite nicely. They’re looking really professional; they look a very well-drilled outfit. The bowling was exceptional and the batters upfront did the job as well. We just hope for more of the same when they cross over to Abu Dhabi but so far, the preparations have looked really good,” Masakadza added.
A day after outclassing hosts UAE, the Lady Chevrons were yet again in impressive form after restricting Thailand to 102 for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs.
In reply, the experienced duo Sharne Mayers (48) and Chipo Mugeri-Tirpano (29) set Zimbabwe on their way to victory.
The solid foundation laid by the top order batters proved crucial as the Lady Chevrons slumped from 79 for the loss of two wickets to 98 for the loss of six.
Ultimately, they reached 106 for seven in 18.4 overs in what will be a big confidence boost ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022.
After the Quadrangular Series the team will move to Abu Dhabi ahead of the start of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier.
The tournament starts this coming Sunday. Zimbabwe are set to face Papua New Guinea, Thailand and UAE in the Qualifier. Prior to their first game of the tournament, they will play a final warm-up match against Scotland this Friday in Abu Dhabi.
Lady Chevrons Squad
Mary-Anne Musonda (c), Modester Mupachikwa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Sharne Mayers, Josephine Nkomo, Precious Marange, Christabel Chatonzwa, Loreen Tshuma, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda, Esther Mbofana, Pellagia Mujaji, Audrey Mazvishaya, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Francisca Chipare