CHRISTINA Mutasa took a record six for 10 as Zimbabwe Women beat defending champions Thailand Women by 28 runs at Karwan Cricket Ground in Ajman yesterday to claim their first win at the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy.
Kelis Ndhlovu’s 56 off 49 balls lifted Zimbabwe to 110 for five after they were put in to bat.
Mutasa then took three wickets in a maiden over to leave Thailand on 31 for six at the end of the powerplay, before Olinder Chare claimed the last three wickets to bowl them out for 82 in 16.4 overs.
Phannita Maya had made early inroads for Thailand, having Beloved Biza caught for nine and trapping Sharne Mayers lbw for two to leave Zimbabwe on 24 for two in the fifth over.
Ndhlovu steadied the innings with a 39-run stand alongside Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, who made nine, before adding 30 with captain Josephine Nkomo.
The opener hit seven fours before Onnicha Kamchomphu caught her off Chanida Sutthiruang at the start of the 18th over, leaving Zimbabwe on 93 for four.
Nkomo finished unbeaten on 16, while Mutasa hit two fours in her 11 before Thipatcha Putthawong bowled her with the final ball of the innings.
That left Thailand needing 111 – and Mutasa was soon in the action again.
After opening with a wide, she had Natthakan Chantham caught by Nyasha Gwanzura for two with her first legal delivery.
Mutasa bowled Nannapat Koncharoenkai in her next over, while Michelle Mavunga removed Maya for 19 off 15 balls to leave Thailand on 24 for three.
Aphisara Suwanchonrathi and Naruemol Chaiwai took the score to 31 before Mutasa broke the chase open in the sixth over.
She bowled Suwanchonrathi with the first ball, had Sarnsiree Plant caught by Nomvelo Sibanda off the fourth and bowled Sutthiruang with the fifth.
Thailand had lost three wickets in five balls without adding a run.
Mutasa then bowled Chaiwai for six with the first ball of her final over to leave Thailand on 34 for seven.
She completed her four-over spell with two maidens and was involved in the next wicket too, catching Suleeporn Laomi for 10 to give Chare her first.
Biza caught Kamchomphu for 15 before Sibanda held the catch that dismissed Chayanisa Phengpaen and sealed the win.
Chare finished with three for 11, while Putthawong remained unbeaten on 14.
Mutasa was named player of the match after bettering the previous Zimbabwe women’s T20I record of six for 11, set by Esther Mbofana against Eswatini in September 2021.
Summary Scorecard: Zimbabwe Women won by 28 runs
Zimbabwe Women — 110-5 in 20 overs (Kelis Ndhlovu 56, Josephine Nkomo 16*, Christina Mutasa 11; Phannita Maya 2/20, Chanida Sutthiruang 1/10, Onnicha Kamchomphu 1/27)
Thailand Women — 82 all out in 16.4 overs (Phannita Maya 19, Onnicha Kamchomphu 15, Thipatcha Putthawong 14*; Christina Mutasa 6/10, Olinder Chare 3/11, Michelle Mavunga 1/19) — ZimCricket.
