Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
DURHAM County Cricket Club women’s team has arrived in Zimbabwe ahead of their historic matches against Zimbabwe Select and Zimbabwe High Performance in Harare later this month.
This is Durham County Cricket Club women’s team’s first visit to Zimbabwe, marking a momentous occasion for both Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and the English County side.
The men’s side arrived in the country last week and have already played one three-day match against Zimbabwe ‘A’.
The historic women’s tour will see the visitors face the Zimbabwe Women’s High Performance and Zimbabwe Women’s Select teams in two 50-over matches at Old Hararians Sports Club on March 20 and 22.
The women’s series will then move to the T20 format, with three matches set for March 24, at Takashinga Cricket Club, March 26 at Harare Sports Club under floodlights – the only night fixture – and March 27 back at Takashinga Cricket Club.
“I’ve seen a wonderful feel about the place,” said Durham men’s head coach Ryan Campbell ahead of the women’s team’s arrival.
“Dani Hazell and her crew have come on board. And, it feels like they have been with us forever.
” I can’t wait for them to get out here and we can show them the ropes in Zimbabwe and they can get cracking. I am sure they will get a good feel about the place.”
Durham men’s team, making their fourth visit to Zimbabwe, beat the hosts by 347 runs in the first three-day game at Harare Sports Club.
The outcome was all but certain as they resumed the final day on 115/6, chasing a daunting target of 481.
Dion Myers, unbeaten overnight on 20, managed to add just two more runs before Matthew Potts breached his defence and bowled him out.
His 59-ball stay was the longest innings by any Zimbabwe ‘A’ batter.
The tail offered little resistance, though the last-wicket pair of Tanaka Chivanga and Alex Falao put on 12 runs before George Drissell dismissed Chivanga to wrap up the match in about half an hour.
Zimbabwe ‘A’ were bowled out for 133, with Potts finishing as the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets for 37 runs.
The second fixture is set for 18-20 March at Takashinga Cricket Club.
The Zimbabwe Cricket women’s High Performance team was in Bulawayo for a six-week camp in January to early March. – @brandon_malvin
