Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza and Innocent Kurira
ZIMBABWE Women have welcomed back captain Josephine Nkomo and veteran batter Sharne Mayers for their historic five-match T20I series against South Africa Women beginning at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo today.
Nkomo, who missed the white-ball tour of Pakistan in May through injury, will lead the Lady Chevrons for the first time since her confirmation as substantive captain.
Mayers returns to the national fold two years after her last appearance for Zimbabwe, adding experience to the 17-member squad announced by Zimbabwe Cricket.
The series will also mark the beginning of a new era for the Lady Chevrons, with recently appointed substantive coach Mark Coles, of New Zealand, taking charge of his first assignment.
The remaining matches will be played at Queens Sports Club on September 13, 15, 17 and 19.
South Africa’s visit is a landmark occasion as it is the first time their senior women’s team has toured Zimbabwe.
The two countries’ senior sides have met only twice before, during an ODI quadrangular series in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in May 2017.
Zimbabwe have, however, faced the South Africa Women’s Emerging side on several occasions.
Apart from Nkomo and Mayers, Nyasha Gwanzura has also bounced back to the national team set-up, while experienced regulars — Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Loreen Tshuma and Loryn Phiri — have been retained.
Zimbabwe have also rewarded three players who featured at last week’s ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division One in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
National Under-19 captain Lorraine Pemhiwa has been included alongside Beloved Biza and Christina Mutasa, giving the younger players an opportunity to test themselves at senior international level.
The series comes at an important stage in the Lady Chevrons’ rebuilding programme following their disappointing campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Nepal in January and February.
They face a formidable South African side currently ranked fifth in the ICC Women’s T20I standings.
The Proteas have also finished as runners-up at the past two editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The matches will be Zimbabwe Women’s first at home since they hosted the United Arab Emirates in a bilateral series at Queens Sports Club in September and October last year.
Since then, the Lady Chevrons have played exclusively away from home, including tours of New Zealand and Pakistan.
While the occasion is historic, Zimbabwe are not interested in simply enjoying the moment.
They want to compete.
They want to test themselves against a side ranked fifth in the ICC Women’s T20I standings and, perhaps most importantly, show the progress they have made in recent years.
Lady Chevrons all-rounder Nomvelo Sibanda said the mood in the Zimbabwe camp had been overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s exciting times ahead and an exciting series. The fact that we are playing South Africa for the first time, everyone is happy, and everyone is excited. It’s positive,” said Sibanda.
That excitement is matched by a healthy dose of respect from the visitors.
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said the Proteas were looking forward to the series but made it clear that Zimbabwe would not be taken lightly.
“We are very excited to be here. We have a new squad, a couple of youngsters; besides that, we are looking to play some good cricket. Zimbabwe are a side who have improved a lot in the last few years, so we are really excited for the games,” said Wolvaardt.
“We are not taking the game lightly. Looking at the video footage, Zimbabwe have some quality players.”
Those words will provide encouragement for a Zimbabwe side entering a new phase under Coles.
Today’s match is Coles’ first assignment since taking charge, giving him an immediate opportunity to begin shaping the Lady Chevrons while measuring his team against formidable opposition.
The Proteas also arrive with an imposing pedigree.
They have finished runners-up at the last two editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and will naturally start the series as favourites.
Zimbabwe, however, have reasons to believe they can make the contest competitive. Today’s match is also significant because of where it is being played.
The Lady Chevrons are returning home after spending the period since their UAE bilateral series at Queens last year playing exclusively away from Zimbabwe, including tours of New Zealand and Pakistan.
Now, they have five opportunities in familiar surroundings to test themselves against South Africa.
The two senior sides have met only twice before, both encounters coming during an ODI quadrangular series in Potchefstroom in May 2017.
For the Lady Chevrons, therefore, today is about more than the opening result.
It is a chance to welcome one of Africa’s cricketing giants to Zimbabwe, embrace the occasion and prove that the country’s women’s game belongs on this stage.
Zimbabwe Women squad:
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.
