Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national women’s cricket team, the Lady Chevrons have returned home from the United Arab Emirates after taking part in the International Cricket Council Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier.
Zimbabwe secured bronze at the eight-team tournament which ended on Sunday. Finishing third means they missed out on qualification for next year’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. Bangladesh, the tournament winners and runners up Ireland qualified for the global showpiece.
The Lady Chevrons landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare yesterday afternoon.
Zimbabwe convincingly won their first two group games, overcoming Papua New Guinea and Thailand by eight and six wickets respectively.
The Lady Chevrons, who had already booked their place in the semi-finals lost against the hosts, UAE in third and final group match but however managed to top the Group B.
In their make-or-break tie, Zimbabwe fell painfully short by four runs against Ireland in the semi-finals which meant the end of the Mary-Anne Musonda-captained Lady Chevrons’ World Cup dream.
The team however, managed to end their campaign at the event with a seven-run victory over higher ranked Thailand, whom they won against for the second time in the competition, to take home bronze.
Young all-rounder, Kelis Ndlovu was one of the outstanding players for Zimbabwe as she picked up the most number of wickets with 11 in five innings, with the best figures of 3-15 against Thailand in the third-place play-off match.
Left arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda finished with eight wickets and best figures of 2-9 against Papua New Guinea.
Modester Mupachikwa recorded the highest number of dismissals throughout the tournament with seven and also the highest number of removals in an innings with three.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter