Online Reporter
LADY CHEVRONS’ Kelis Ndhlovu has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.
An independent assessment confirmed that the left-arm spinner uses an illegal bowling action.
The 19-year-old was reported by match officials during the first ODI against Ireland in Belfast on 26 July and she underwent the assessment in Pretoria, South Africa.
In accordance with Article 6.1 of the Bowling Regulations, Ndhlovu’s suspension shall remain in place until she submits to a re-assessment of her bowling action which confirms that she can bowl without using an illegal bowing action.
She made her international debut on 20th April 2022 in a T20I against Namibia.
Her best performance with the bat so far for Zimbabwe in the T20I format came on April 24, 2022, when she scored an unbeaten 58 runs at a strike rate of 92.06 against Namibia in the Capricorn Women’s tri-series involving Namibia and Uganda.
She played a crucial role with the bat at the top of the order, opening the innings alongside Sharne Mayers.
Zimbabwe eventually clinched the game by a comprehensive 67-run margin.
Kelis’ best performance with the ball till date came on 11th March 2024 when she returned with sensational match figures (4-1-12-3) in her spell against Nigeria in the 2nd semi-final of the Women’s African Games, earlier this year.
She made her ODI debut on 19th April 2023 against Thailand. Her best performance with the bat for Zimbabwe in the ODI format came on January 21, 2024 when she scored 34 runs at a strike rate of 85 against Ireland in the 2nd ODI of the bilateral series.
She played a crucial role in helping her side tie the game, scoring 34 runs with the bat and returning with impressive match figures (9-0-36-3) in her spell.
Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 15 wickets at a strike rate of 29.2, an impressive average of 16, and a sensational economy of 3.28 in 9 innings.
Her best performance with the ball in the ODI format for Zimbabwe came on April 19, 2023, when she returned with exceptional match figures (9-2-22-5) in her spell on her ODI debut against Thailand in the 1st ODI on their tour of Thailand.
She holds the record for the joint 2nd best figures (9-2-22-5) on her ODI debut, alongside the likes of Purnima Choudhary (8-0-21-5) (India), Felicity Leydon-Davis (8.2-1-18-5) (New Zealand), Tina Macpherson (12-7-14-5) (Australia), and Laura Harper (8.4-2-12-5) (England).
She also holds the record for being the 3rd youngest player to take a five-wicket haul in the ODI format at the age of 17 years and 154 days, which also happened to be her debut game in the format. —ICC/Female Cricket.
