End of the line for Lady Chevrons

THE Zimbabwe senior women’s national cricket team was yesterday knocked out from the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers following their 15-run defeat to the Netherlands at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The Lady Chevrons needed to beat the Dutch to keep their slim chances of qualifying for the next round but another poor batting display hindered them from chasing down a target of 136 runs set by the Dutch.

Yesterday’s defeat meant that Zimbabwe can no longer proceed to the semifinals and will return home a dejected side.

The Netherlands won the toss and elected to bat first and were restricted to 135/6 in 20 overs before going on to finish their innings at 121/4.

With wickets in hand and a paltry 136 runs in sight to chase, the Walter Chawaguta-mentored team will only have themselves to blame for falling short. There were no changes to the team that played against Ireland.

Francesca Chipare led from the front with the ball in hand for Zimbabwe in the first innings of the match.

In her four-over spell, Chipare finished with figures of 2/27 in her four overs while Josephine Nkomo and Sharne Mayers took one scalp apiece. Nkomo conceded 28 runs in her four overs while Mayers only bowled one over and went for five runs. The other two wickets that fell were run-outs.

Robine Rijke top scored for Netherlands with 39 runs not out of 25 balls while Babette de Leede top scored with 37 runs from 40 balls. Sterre Kalis chipped in with 34 runs after facing 37 deliveries.

Chasing what seemed like an easy-to-get target, the Lady Chevrons lost an early wicket of Mayers in the second over. She fell for five runs off eight balls. They went on to lose Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano in the fourth over for nine runs off 12 deliveries to leave the team on 15/2.

In the eighth over, Ashley Ndiraya was bowled for three runs and was the last wicket to fall with the team on 36/4.

Needing 100 runs to win in 11,5 overs, Zimbabwe’s batters in the middle failed to get it right, both striking at under 100.

It was Josephine Nkomo (39 runs not out from 41 balls) and Modester Mupachikwa (39 runs not out from 44 balls).

Iris Zwilling, Frédérique Overdijk, Silver Siegers and Caroline de Lange took the four wickets that fell.
Zimbabwe were in Group B of the World Cup Qualifiers alongside the hosts, UAE, Vanuatu, Netherlands and Ireland.

They only managed one victory against UAE after having suffered an embarrassingly shocking defeat at the hands of minnows Vanuatu. Before yesterday’s defeat, they also lost against Ireland.

Meanwhile, yesterday Lady Chevrons fast bowler Nomvelo Sibanda lost her mother, Siphilamanzi Ndlovu.

The left-handed fast bowler’s mother died at the age of 50 at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH)
“Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) is deeply saddened to learn Zimbabwe Women’s team bowler Nomvelo Sibanda has lost her mother, Mrs Siphilamanzi Ndlovu. She passed on this Wednesday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals in Bulawayo at the age of 50.

“The late Mrs Ndlovu is survived by her husband, two daughters, one son and one grandchild. We, as the ZC Board, Management, Staff and Players, extend our deepest condolences to Nomvelo and her family on the loss of their beloved mother.

May her soul rest in peace,” read a statement from ZC Media and Communications Manager, Darlington Majonga.