Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Under-19 women came within four runs of qualifying for the 2027 ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup before a dramatic late collapse handed Nigeria the sole African ticket in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday.
Chasing a modest 99 for victory in the final of the Africa Division One qualifier, the Young Lady Chevrons were bowled out for 94 with one delivery remaining.
Zimbabwe appeared to have recovered from a poor start when Salem Museka and Bethel Zinyama carried them to 85 runs for five wickets after 17 overs.
They needed only 14 runs from the final three overs, with five wickets still in hand.
But Museka’s dismissal for a team-high 27 runs triggered a collapse that saw Zimbabwe lose their last five wickets for nine runs.
Zinyama, who made 21 runs off 31 balls, was run out with the score on 92 before Buhlebenkosi Maposa and Sharmaine Manyukwi fell in successive deliveries.
Naomi Mhlekwa kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive at the other end, but Vanessa Mayedza was bowled by Annointed Akhigbe from the penultimate delivery of the innings. The defeat brought a painful end to a campaign in which Zimbabwe had looked one of the strongest teams.
They began the chase positively through Nicolette Nyika, who struck three boundaries in her 18 runs off 19 balls
However, three wickets from Usen Peace reduced Zimbabwe to 32 for three inside seven overs.
Captain Lorraine Pemhiwa, who had struck 70 in the opening victory over Rwanda, was dismissed without scoring.
Christine Mutasa made 13 runs before Peace also removed her, while Beloved Biza and Tadiwa Garutsa fell cheaply as Zimbabwe slipped to 38/5.
Museka and Zinyama then added 47 runs for the sixth wicket to drag their side back into the contest.
The pair took Zimbabwe to within touching distance of the World Cup, only for Nigeria’s bowlers to hold their nerve at the death.
Peace finished with three for 19 runs while Jennifer Godwin and Akhigbe took two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s bowlers had restricted Nigeria to 98 runs for six after the West Africans won the toss and elected to bat.
Mutasa returned impressive figures of two for 11 runs from four overs, including a maiden, while Garutsa conceded just eight runs from her four overs and claimed one wicket.
Three run-outs also helped Zimbabwe keep Nigeria under pressure.
Captain Christabel Chukwuonye top-scored for Nigeria with 21 runs from 19 balls, while Beauty Oguai contributed 19 runs.
Nigeria entered the final overs on 83/5, but wicket-keeper Deborah Bassey struck an unbeaten 10 runs from four deliveries to push the total to 98.
Those late runs proved decisive.
The result also carried echoes of the previous qualification tournament, when Nigeria edged Zimbabwe to the World Cup place after the final was washed out.
This time, Zimbabwe had the opportunity to settle the matter on the field but again finished on the wrong side of a painfully narrow margin.
