Eagles women crowned domestic champions

Brandon Moyo

EAGLES women’s cricket team proved to be a force to reckon with in the local franchise setup after winning two domestic finals that were played on Saturday and Sunday at Sunrise Sports Club in Harare.

The capital based side won the T20 and Fifty50 Challenge finals, beating Mega Market Mountaineers Women and Rhinos Women respectively to round up a successful domestic season for them. Eagles dominantly won both finals by nine wickets.

On Saturday in the T20 final, Eagles won the toss and elected to field first and went on to restrict their opponents, Mountaineers to 89/6 in 20 overs before going on to finish on 93/1.

Their brilliant bowling performance was anchored by teenage sensation, Kelis Ndhlovu who finished with the best bowling figures of 3/9 in four overs. From her spell, she had one maiden and was going at an economy rate of 2,25 runs per over.

The other three wickets that fell were taken by Tawananyasha Marumani, Christabel Chatonzwa and Beloved Biza.

Pellagia Mujaji was the only Mountaineers batter who put up a notable performance with the bat as she scored more than half of the team’s total. Mujaji remained not out on 66 runs from 62 balls and was the only one who managed to cross double figures.

In their chase, Eagles went on to finish on 93/1 in 11,2 overs having lost the wicket of Modester Mupachikwa who fell for 12 runs off 16 balls. Ndhlovu once again was the star for Eagles as she scored an unbeaten half century of 57 runs from 39 balls to guide her side to an easy win.

Chasing the domestic double, on Sunday Eagles went up against a Rhinos team whom they thumped once again.

Bowling first, Eagles put up yet another brilliant display with ball in hand, courtesy of a Ndhlovu and Chatonzwa masterclass. The teenage ace, who is also in contention for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Player of the Month for April took six wickets in the match while Chatonzwa took four. Ndlhlovu bowled seven overs and gave away just seven runs while Chatonzwa bowled five overs and conceded 13 runs as the duo wiped out their opponents for a below par score.

Only one Rhinos batter managed to cross double figures and that was Ashley Ndiraya with 16 runs from 21 deliveries while the second leading run scorer was Kelly Ndiraya with nine runs after facing 14 balls.

In their chase, Mupachikwa was once again the only wicket that fell for Eagles, scoring 27 runs from 24 balls. Ndhlovu remained not out again with 25 runs off 27 balls as their side finished on 62/1 in 9,2 overs to complete the double.

The two finals which took place after the completion of Zimbabwe Women’s tour to Thailand which ended at the end of last month marked the end of the country’s premier women’s cricket competitions. — @brandon_malvin