Lady Chevrons reach final as Muchapikwa makes history

THE Lady Chevrons’, Zimbabwe’s senior national women’s cricket team wrote themselves into history books when they booked their place in the All-Africa Games final, with a five wicket win over Nigeria in Accra, Ghana yesterday.

Zimbabwe will now face South Africa in the final tomorrow.

Nigeria won the toss and elected to bat first and were restricted to just 74/9 in their 20 overs. Kelis Ndlovu and Loreen Tshuma picked up three wickets apiece. The Lady Chevrons went on to chase down the target in 16 overs, finishing on 75/5.

The Lady Chevrons are now guaranteed a medal at the All Africa Games. –

Lady Chevrons batswoman Modester Mupachikwa made history, when she became the country’s all-time run scorer in T20Is on Sunday.

On Sunday, the 27-year-old Mupachikwa became the first Zimbabwean woman to score 1 000 runs in Lady Chevrons colours.

She achieved the feat during Zimbabwe’s match against Kenya at the All-Africa Games.

Going into the match, Mupachikwa was on 962 career runs and she went on to score 40 runs against Kenya, to achieve the historic feat for the Lady Chevrons. For scoring the 40 runs, which saw her move to a place where no other Lady Chevrons player has ever been before, Mupachikwa was named Player of the Match.

She helped Zimbabwe book a place in the semi-finals and final of the continental games as the Lady Chevrons beat Kenya by 68 runs to set up a date with Nigeria for a spot in the final. The ongoing African Games are the first to feature cricket.

In their match against Kenya, the Lady Chevrons lost the toss and were asked to bat first. They would go on to score 142/5 in their 20 overs before restricting Kenya to just 74/4 in 20 overs as well.

Mupachikwa and Sharne Mayers put up an 80-run opening stand for Zimbabwe before the latter fell for 39 runs off 40 deliveries. Mupachikwa was the top run scorer with 40 runs off as many deliveries. Kelis Ndlovu made 24 runs from 21 balls while the skipper, Mary-Anne Musonda scored a quick 18 runs off just nine deliveries.

Flavia Odhiambo starred with the ball for Kenya, taking three wickets for 29 runs in her four over spell while Lavendah Idambo and Melvin Khagoitsa took one wicket each.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers did not take many wickets but managed to restrict Kenya from scoring. Taking just four wickets, the Lady Chevrons bowlers did well to slow down Kenya’s scoring. The only four wickets that fell were taken by Ndhlovu, Lindokuhle Mabhero and Precious Marange.

The trio all took one wicket apiece while the other wicket that fell was a run out.

Khagoitsa top scored for Kenya with 30 runs off 48 balls and Venasa Ooko chipped in with an unbeaten 18 runs off 13 balls. The two were the only Kenyan batters who managed to cross double figures.
– @brandon_malvin