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Brandon Moyo
THE stage is set for Zimbabwe Cricket Women’s three one-day regional matches which are scheduled to start at Old Hararians Sports Club.
With the first match taking place today, the other two matches are pencilled in for Thursday and Saturday, all at the same venue. Both the Northern and Southern squads have 14 players apiece.
The three matches will be used to select the Lady Chevrons team that will do duty against the United States in a five-match One Day International (ODI) series scheduled for October 17 to 28 at Harare Sports Club.
Both the Northern and Southern squads boast of experienced and young campaigners with the former having the likes of Sharne Mayers, Nomvelo Sibanda, Ashley Ndiraya, Precious Marange, Pellagia Mujaji, and Runyararo Pasipanodya among others. The Southern boasts of a contingent that includes Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Josephine Nkomo, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Thubelihle Saidi, and Modester Mupachikwa among others.
The three forthcoming games will also be used as preparation for the US inbound tour.
US women have only played two international 50-over matches since they gained ODI status in 2022.
The US team will be looking to build on the momentum from the ODI series earlier this year in the UAE against Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Scotland.
They, however, lost the two matches they played against Scotland (41 runs) and PNG (six wickets).
The forthcoming tour will mark USA’s second visit to Zimbabwe with the first being during the 2021 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier which, however, ended prematurely due to Covid-19.
The Lady Chevrons and the US have faced each other twice in 50-over cricket with both teams winning once. However, the two games were not considered international matches at that time as the US were still yet to gain ODI status.
It was in 2011 that the US pulled off a memorable victory against Zimbabwe in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh. Ten years later, the Lady Chevrons would get their revenge in a World Cup Qualifier match in Zimbabwe.
The qualification match is the last game to have been played between the two nations to date.
Northern Squad: Lindrose Masina, Sharne Mayers, Ashley Ndiraya, Pellagia Mujaji, Runyararo Pasipanodya, Christabel Chatonzwa, Chiyedza Dhururu, Precious Marange, Nomvelo Sibanda, Mitchell Mavunga, Ropafadzo Mavunga, Tendai Maku-sha, Olinder Chare, Audrey Mazvishaya.
Southern Squad: Natasha Mthomba, Modester Mupachikwa, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Nyasha Gwanzura, Josephine Nkomo, Adel Zimunu, Betty Mangachena, Francisca Chipare, Esther Mbofana, Londokuhle Mabhera, Catherine Chitombo, Vimbai Mutungwindu, Thubelibhle Saidi, Vimbai Kuvava.
Online Reporter