tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
ALLIANCE Health Eagles Women have the perfect start to the 2022 Fifty50 Challenge tournament, with the Harare-based team recording three straight wins in their opening three games.
Their most recent scalp came on Wednesday, when they beat Mountaineers Women by 26 runs, through the Duckworth-Lewis method, at Old Hararians.
Put to bat first, Alliance Health Eagles raced to what would end up being a winning 187 runs.
Mountaineers were the first team to make an impact, dispatching the opening duo of Alice Marongwe and Christabel Chatonzwa inside the first five overs of the day.
It took returning captain, Modester Mupachikwa and Kellies Ndlovu to stabilise Eagles’ innings, with the duo posting a partnership of 68 runs for the third wicket.
It came to an end when Ndlovu was caught-off a delivery from Nyasha Gwanzura by Kudzai Chigora for 34 runs from 29 balls.
Mupachikwa, who was playing her first match of the season, was to return to the pavilion three overs later after she was bowled out by Loryn Phiri for her 35 off 47 balls.
Lady Chevrons’ all-rounder, Precious Marange then came in and took charge of the proceedings in her usual fashion.
She smacked six fours on her way to 48 off 61 balls before she was trapped leg before wicket (lbw) by Chido Mukaringe in the 35th over to leave Eagles at 162 for the loss of six wickets.
Eagles’ tail-end had very little to offer as the innings folded at 187 in 45.5 overs.
Each of the Mountaineers’ six bowlers took at least a wicket each, with Mazvishaya, Mushanyi, Phiri, and Gwanzura claiming two apiece.
Chasing a total of 188, Mountaineers also had an early setback as they lost their opener, Evelyn Chisingarambwi in the third over.
However, the Mutare-based women team were quick to recover as Phiri and Pellagia Mujaji put on 62 runs in 17.3 overs together.
The partnership was finally put to an end when Mitchell Mavunga caught Phiri from a Marange delivery in the 18th over.
With Mountaineers on 72 for the loss of three wickets, and needing 122 to record their first victory of the season, match officials had to put the match on hold in the 23rd over due to lightning amid fears of rainfall.
The Duckworth Lewis method was to be applied after the match delay, which saw the total being revised to 154 in 37 overs.
After the resumption, Mountaineers lost three quick wickets.
Mujaji was trapped lbw by Chatonzwa, departing for 45 off 79 balls, after which Gwanzura, who made 14 off 19, was caught by Mavunga off a delivery from Olinda Chare.
Patricia Mutembo was caught and bowled by Ndlovu off the very last ball, and that was the end of their innings.
The visitors finished on 127 for six in 37 overs, giving Eagles the victory by 26 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis system.
Online Reporter