Chronicle Editor
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Skipper Mary Anne-Musonda and young sensation Kelis Ndhlovu not there?
No problem!
Well, that was the story of the day yesterday as the Zimbabwe Lady Chevrons strolled to victory by five wickets over the United States of America and claimed the first of five One Day Internationals between the two sides at Harare Sports Club.
It was also a day in which records tumbled as wicketkeeper Modester Mupachikwa’s four catches saw her move to 11 dismissals move past Chiedza Dhururu’s seven.
Mupachikwa now has the most dismissals by a Zimbabwean wicketkeeper in women’s One Day International.
Her four catches are now the most by a wicketkeeper in an innings, again moving past Dhururu (three).
Josephine Nkomo and Runyararo Pasipanodya’s 41-run partnership is now Zimbabwe’s highest sixth-wicket stand, breaking the previous best set by Precious Marange and Musonda (39).
All in all, it was a good day in the office for the Lady Chevrons who won the toss and sent the Americans in to bat first.
That appeared to be a good move by stand-in skipper Nkomo as the hosts bundled out the United States of America’s women’s team for 154 runs inside 44 overs.
Nkomo and Player-of-the-Match Beloved Biza were the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers as the duo took three wickets each for 29 and 22 runs respectively.
Audrey Mazvishaya and Christabel Chatonzwa each chipped in with two wickets, an all-round performance that should leave coach Walter Chawaguta purring.
The visitors found the going tough with only four batters making double-digit figures.
These included top-order batter Disha Dhingra (23), top-scorer Anika Kolan (37) and the duo of Sindhu Sriharsha and Isani Vaghela who each chipped in with 14 runs in the middle.
In fact, Vaghela and Sriharsha combined for 17 runs for the fifth-wicket which ended by being a record for the Americans in women’s One Day Internationals (ODI).
Set a target of 154 runs for victory, the Zimbabweans hardly broke sweat as the Lady Chevrons crossed the line with 93 balls to spare.
Biza top-scored for the Zimbabweans with 38 runs off 51 balls which included five boundaries.
She found ready assistance from Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (29 runs off 34 balls) at the top and Nkomo’s 33 runs off 45 balls.
The two sides meet again on Sunday for the second ODI at Harare Sports Club.
Online Reporter