Zimbabwe bounced back from a disappointing loss to Vanuatu on Thursday by registering a comfortable, eight-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their second ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
The UAE won the toss and opted to bat first, but just as in their tournament opener against Ireland, they failed to fire with the bat.
The tournament hosts lost three wickets inside the first six overs, but the innings was steered back on track courtesy of a 52-run, fourth-wicket partnership between Kavisha Edodage (23) and top-scorer, Heena Hotchandani (32 off 33 balls, three fours).
Both batters fell in quick succession and after their departure, the UAE’s lower-order struggled to get going in the death overs.
Rinitha Ranjith’s much needed 19 off 11 balls (two fours) helped her side pass the 100-run mark.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers maintained their discipline with the ball for most of the UAE innings. Josephine Nkomo (player of the match) was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 11 runs in four overs.
She took wickets both with the new ball and in the death overs with her impressive seam bowling. Audrey Mazvishaya helped maintain their momentum with her own two wickets for 25.
Zimbabwe were rarely troubled in their chase. Opener, Sharne Mayers, fell for 13 after a 22-run opening partnership. Wicketkeeper-batter Modester Mupachikwa (22) added 43 runs for the second-wicket with Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano.
After Mupachikwa’s dismissal in the 10th over, Mugeri-Tiripano saw her side home in the company of skipper Mary-Anne Musonda who scored an unbeaten 26 off 23 balls (three fours).
Mugeri-Tiripano scored a brisk, unbeaten 36 from 26 with the help of four fours. Zimbabwe completed the chase with 27 balls to spare, Suraksha Kotte was the only wicket-taker for UAE.