Chronicle EditorZIMBABWE have intensified their preparations for the 2016 ICC Africa Women’s World Twenty20 Cricket Qualifier tournament which they host this weekend after naming a squad of familiar faces.
Chipo Mugeri will lead the side in the four-nation tournament that takes pace this weekend at The Country Club and Alexandra Sports Club.
The hosts warmed up to the event yesterday when they featured some of their players in an Under-21 women’s side that routed Kenya in a warm-up match at Takashinga Sports Club in Highfield.
Rumbidzai Nhire produced a five-star performance in that match as she claimed a five-wicket haul that saw the visitors collapse to 41 all out in eight overs.
Just four of their batters made runs, with Mary Bele and Margaret Banja top-scoring with 13 runs each, while Venesa Adhiambo and Sharon Juma managed two and one respectively.
Nhire was responsible for much of the carnage, taking five wickets for five runs in 2.5 overs.
Esther Mbofana was impressive too as she grabbed two wickets for three runs in three overs.
The rest of the Kenya batters were run out.
The Zimbabwe Under-21s had little trouble reaching the target, with Precious Marange leading the chase with 22 runs before she was trapped leg before wicket by Sarah Bhakita.
Kenya failed to claim any other wicket as Loreen Tshuma and Mary-Anne Musonda took the home side over the line both unbeaten on 11 and six respectively.
The Under-21 side featured some of the players included in the final 14-member senior squad that will represent Zimbabwe in the 2016 ICC Africa Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament.
Apart from Zimbabwe and Kenya, the other participants in the four-team event are Tanzania and Uganda.
The qualifier tournament will be contested on a round-robin basis with matches scheduled for The Country Club and Alexandra Sports Club in Harare.
The team that finishes with the most points will win the regional event and proceed to the global qualification tournament for the 2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
Kenya became the first side to arrive for the four-team regional tournament — running from April 23 to 26 — when they landed in the capital on Tuesday evening with a squad of 14 players led by head coach Lameck Ng’oche.
Former star batsman Steve Tikolo is also part of the team as assistant coach-cum-team manager.
“We are looking forward to a great campaign in Harare and the girls are raring to go,” said Ng’oche.
Zimbabwe squad
Chipo Mugeri (Captain), Precious Marange (Vice-Captain), Pellagia Mujaji, Mary-Anne Musonda, Josephine Nkomo, Loreen Tshuma, Modester Mupachikwa (Wicket-keeper), Nonhlanhla Nyathi, Esther Mbofana, Sharne Mayers (Wicket-keeper), Tasmeen Granger, Nomatter Mutasa, Ashley Ndiraya, Nomvelo Sibanda – Sports Reporter/Zim Cricket
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