Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
LADY Chevrons captain Nomvelo Sibanda says Zimbabwe are determined to close the gap with the world’s best when they face South Africa in the opening match of their five-game Twenty20 International series at Queens Sports Club today.
Zimbabwe will use the series to measure their progress against a Proteas side that reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, where they lost to England.
Sibanda said playing stronger opposition was vital to Zimbabwe’s growth.
“I think it’s just about bridging that gap between us and those top teams … and in terms of skills, you get better the more you play against better opposition,” she said during yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
South Africa may arrive as favourites, but skipper Laura Wolvaardt warned her team against taking Zimbabwe lightly, saying the hosts possess players capable of punishing any lapse.
“Definitely not taking them (Lady Chevrons) lightly. … they really have a couple of really high-quality players who could really hurt us if we’re not on the top of our game,” she said.
The Proteas will, however, field a significantly changed side from their World Cup semi-final team, using the series to assess their depth and blood new talent.
Only Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen from the semi-final XI are in the touring squad. Karabo Meso and Kayla Reyneke, who were part of the World Cup squad, are also in Bulawayo.
Senior players including Marizanne Kapp, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk are absent.
Four uncapped players, 18-year-old Jae-Leigh Filander, 22-year-old Nthabiseng Nini, 20-year-old Luyanda Nzuza and 22-year-old Caitlin Wyngaard, have been given an opportunity.
Wolvaardt said the series would help South Africa assess its emerging talent.
The Lady Chevrons have also included Under-19 players Lorraine Pemhiwa, Beloved Biza and Christina Mutasa after their recent Africa Qualifier campaign.
Zimbabwe welcome back Josephine Nkomo from injury, while veteran batter Sharne Mayers returns after a two-year absence. Nyasha Gwanzura is also back, alongside experienced players Chipo
Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Loreen Tshuma and Loryn Phiri.
The series marks new coach Mark Coles’ first assignment, with Sibanda welcoming his fresh philosophy.
Zimbabwe will also draw confidence from their recent Pakistan and New Zealand tours.
“It’s about processes. So we’ve got processes, we’ve got a template, the way that we want to play,” Sibanda said.
Wolvaardt, meanwhile, said South Africa’s standards remained unchanged despite the youthful squad.
“Any game that we play for South Africa is a must-win,” she said.
Zimbabwe and South Africa have met only twice at senior women’s level, both encounters coming in 2017 in Potchefstroom.
The second match is on Sunday, followed by the third on Tuesday, fourth on Thursday and the final on September 19.
SQUADS
Zimbabwe: Josephine Nkomo (captain), Beloved Biza, Kudzai Chigora, Francesca Chipare, Nyasha Gwanzura, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Tendai Makusha, Michelle Mavunga, Sharne Mayers, Modester
Mupachikwa, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Christina Mutasa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Lorraine Pemhiwa, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loreen Tshuma.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Jae-Leigh Filander, Ayanda Hlubi, Eliz-Mari Marx, Karabo Meso, Seshnie Naidu, Nthabiseng Nini, Luyanda Nzuza,
Kayla Reyneke, Nondumiso Shangase, Miané Smit, Faye Tunnicliffe, Caitlin Wyngaard.
