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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior women’s cricket team captain Mary-Anne Musonda says maintaining focus will be key at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which begins tomorrow in Abu Dhabi with a clash against the ever-improving Papua New Guinea.
The women’s team will be part of the eight hopefuls that will be competing for the remaining two tickets to next year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in South Africa.
The Lady Chevrons plunge into the competition with their morale high following a good run of results in recent matches and a thorough preparation programme under coach Gary Brent. The Zimbabwe women’s side are chasing their first T20 World Cup appearance.
“Our team’s objectives at the tournament are mainly to apply ourselves and go through our processes thoroughly while taking each game as it comes,” said Musonda.
“We want to qualify for the World Cup, but we understand that getting there will take us managing all moments as they will come in each game.
“I think teamwork is what we’re going in with. We want to play a brand of cricket that we have been playing in the last couple of months, which is playing with freedom and being brave.
“All the other finer aspects in each department sort of take care of themselves.”
Apart from Papua New Guinea, they also play Thailand on Monday and UAE on Wednesday in Group B of the eight-team Qualifier, where the top two teams will book their places at next year’s World Cup to be held in South Africa.
The other group comprises the USA, Scotland, Ireland and Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe made it to the Qualifier last year after winning the African qualifying tournament in Botswana with a 100 percent winning record.
The women’s team have been camping in UAE for the past 10 days for the final leg of their preparations.
The side competed in a Quadrangular series that also involved USA, Thailand and hosts UAE and won all their games. They had another date with Scotland yesterday in the final preparatory game.
Zimbabwe have been in good form, having beaten South Africa Emerging Women 4-1 in a T20 series played in Pretoria shortly before their departure for Dubai. A few days earlier, they had a successful tour of India where they set up a two-week training camp.
They now have to cope with the sweltering temperatures in Abu Dhabi and the unfamiliar prospects of playing under lights since all the games will be played in the evening because of the heat.
“We have been in Namibia, India and South Africa preparing for this tournament, working on our game and working on our minds. It’s been a successful few months. I think probably adjusting to playing under lights might present a few challenges for us. But we’re hoping to manage that as well,” said Musonda.
Zimbabwe are ranked 12th in the ICC T20 rankings while PNG are three rungs down at number 15. But the Asian side has been on the rise in recent years.
Under the charge of retired Australian woman cricketer Kath Hempenstall, they had encouraging performances in the final practice games in UAE this week.
PNG, who have benefitted from their cricket ties with Australia, started their warm up series against Thailand. The opponents got off to a flying start before the PNG bowlers fought back to take eight wickets in the final five overs.
Mairi Tom was the pick of the bowlers with 3/20 and Holland Doriga 2/7 but they still lost the game.
The next two games brought impressive victories including a resounding nine-wicket win over the UAE and then a comfortable seven-wicket success over Scotland.
They bowled Scotland out for 107 with Captain Kaia Arua (3/25) and Doriga and Ravina Oa both picking up two wickets each. Naomi Vare (44 not out) and Tanya Ruma (26) helped run down the formidable total with three balls to spare.
“We have some good batters, backup spinners and medium pacers with variations,” said PNG captain, Arua.
“We are also very quick running between the wickets. We have a good mixture of youth and experience.
“Cricket is a team sport so I believe if we work as a team, we will win. Teamwork makes the dream work. Our team’s preparations have been good and I’m glad we came early, had a couple of practice matches, which gives us a heads up on what we should improve or work on.
Squads
Zimbabwe: Mary-Anne Musonda (c), Modester Mupachikwa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Sharne Mayers, Josephine Nkomo, Precious Marange, Christabel Chatonzwa, Loreen Tshuma, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda, Esther Mbofana, Pellagia Mujaji, Audrey Mazvishaya, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Francisca Chipare
Papua New Guinea: Kaia Arua (c), Melanie Ani, Vicky Araa, Hollan Doriga, Kevau Frank, Veru Frank, Sibona Jimmy, Ravina Oa, Tanya Ruma, Pauke Siaka, Brenda Tau, Henao Thomas, Mairi Tom, Isabel Toua, Naoani Vare
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