Vusumuzi Dube
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ANOTHER poor batting show saw the Zimbabwe senior national women’s cricket team succumb to a 45 runs defeat in the second One Day International (ODI) against Thailand on Friday at Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok.
The win saw the hosts take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. After electing to field first, the Lady Chevrons bowled out their opponents for 217 runs in 50 overs before going on to score 169/9 in 50 overs to lose the series with a game to go.
Teenage sensation, Kelis Ndhlovu produced yet another brilliant display with the ball for the Gary Brent coached Zimbabwean team as she topped the bowling charts once again. In her 10 overs, Ndhlovu took three wickets, giving away 17 runs with four maiden overs.
Christabel Chatonzwa and Audrey Mazvishaya picked up two wickets apiece, giving away 34 and 36 runs in six and eight overs respectively.
Josephine Nkomo and Loreen Tshuma, in seven and 10 overs respectively took one wicket each.
A century stand for the opening wicket gave Thailand a good start with the bat. Natthakan Chantham fell for 54 off 67 deliveries which became the highest score of the match. Her partner, Sornnarin Tippoch scored 41 runs from 79 balls to guide their team to a better score than that of the first match.
In run the chase, Zimbabwe failed to get going after losing two wickets in the first over.
Ndhlovu and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano both fell for ducks after facing three balls each. Sharne Mayers went on to top score for the Lady Chevrons with 37 runs from 53 balls while Nomvelo Sibanda remained undefeated on 33 runs off 70 deliveries. Nkomo also remained not out with 28 runs after facing up to 49 balls.
Three Zimbabwean batters went out for ducks as Suleeporn Laomi and Chanida Sutthiruanga took two scalps each for the hosts.
Phannita Maya and Onnicha Kamchomphu had one wicket each while three other wickets that fell were run outs.
The series is Zimbabwe’s first international assignment of the year and they will be hoping to bounce back and salvage something when they head into the last game today before attention shifts to the Twenty20 Internationals.
Zimbabwe and Thailand are set to play four 20-over matches starting on Tuesday, which the two countries will be using as part of their preparations for the regional and global qualifiers which are scheduled to take part later in the year. — Follow on Twitter @brandon_malvin
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