Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE captain Nomvelo Nkomo believes the Lady Chevrons were architects of their own downfall after giving South Africa too many loose deliveries in yesterday’s second T20 International at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
The Proteas Women punished those mistakes to post 193 for three before Zimbabwe finished on 129 for seven, suffering a 64-run defeat and falling 2-0 behind in the five-match series.
Nkomo did not hide her disappointment with Zimbabwe’s bowling performance, saying the hosts had allowed South Africa’s batters too many opportunities to score freely.
“We gave away too many loose deliveries and South Africa capitalised on that. I think we let ourselves down as the bowling department and we have to improve in the next match,” said Nkomo.
Despite the defeat, the captain said there were positives to take from the match, particularly the improvement in Zimbabwe’s batting.
Unlike in the opening T20I, when the Lady Chevrons were bowled out for 116, Zimbabwe batted through their 20 overs and finished on 129 for seven.
Nkomo said the team needed to show the same application earlier in their innings.
“We needed to bat like we did at the end with Christine Mutasa,” she said.
Mutasa provided the backbone of Zimbabwe’s late resistance, finishing unbeaten on 30 off 26 balls, while Nyasha Gwanzura made 18 and Nkomo remained unbeaten on 15.
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a poor start after Sharne Mayers was dismissed for a duck, with wickets continuing to fall at regular intervals.
The hosts slipped to 84 for seven before Mutasa and Nkomo helped them recover to 129 for seven at the end of their 20 overs.
South Africa had earlier put Zimbabwe under pressure with a commanding batting display, led by Anneke Bosch, who continued her superb start to the series.
Bosch followed up her career-best 83 in Friday’s opening match with a blistering 65 off 31 balls, including 12 fours, as the Proteas reached 193 for three after electing to bat.
She then returned with the ball to claim two wickets for just five runs from her two overs and was named Player of the Match.
Bosch has now scored 148 runs in the opening two matches of the series, having made 83 off 43 balls in the first T20I.
Faye Tunnicliffe added an unbeaten 52 off 34 balls, while Annerie Dercksen finished unbeaten on 36 off 20 as South Africa maintained the pressure on the Lady Chevrons.
Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt made 10 before she was dismissed, while Nondumiso Shangase contributed 23.
South Africa’s bowling attack was led by Seshnie Naidu, who took three wickets for 26 runs in four overs, while Bosch claimed two for five. Eliz-Mari Marx also took a wicket and conceded 18 runs from her four overs.
Nkomo also felt there had been an improvement in Zimbabwe’s fielding despite South Africa’s imposing total.
“I felt also that we fielded better today despite the score by the South Africans,” she said.
The Lady Chevrons will now look to tighten up their bowling and build on the improved batting performance when the two sides meet again in the third T20I on Tuesday at Queens Sports Club. South Africa now lead the five-match series 2-0.
FALL OF WICKETS
South Africa: 1-35 (Laura Wolvaardt, 3.4 overs); 2-99 (Anneke Bosch, 10.3); 3-105 (Nondumiso Shangase, 11.4).
Zimbabwe: 1-0 (Sharne Mayers, 0.3 overs); 2-32 (Kelis Ndhlovu, 5.3); 3-43 (Beloved Biza, 6.2); 4-48 (Loreen Tshuma, 6.5); 5-51 (Nyasha Gwanzura, 8.1); 6-78 (Michelle Mavunga, 11.3); 7-84 (Modester Mupachiwa, 13.5).
