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Brandon Moyo
AFTER two consecutive defeats in the Zimbabwe Cricket Women regional matches, Southerns cricket team managed to end the series on a high note, winning the last match at Old Hararians Cricket Club on Friday.
The victory on Friday helped them avoid a 3-0 whitewash and salvage something from the series after the Northerns had dominated the first two opening games. They registered a thumping 112 runs win.
After they were asked to bat first, the Southerns’ batters managed to step up in the series finale, finishing on 266 runs all out in 45,4 overs before their bowlers stood up in the match’s second innings to bowl out the Northerns for just 154 runs in 31,5 overs.
It was a brilliant all round performance from the Southerns where the bowlers managed to complement the batters’s effort.
The Southerns managed to put up a good first wicket partnership of 67 runs before the series leading run scorer, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano fell for 31 runs off 33 deliveries. Mugeri-Tiripano’s opening partner, Modester Mupachikwa top scored for the Southerns with a well played 63 runs off 71 balls while Ashley Ndiraya fell one run shot of her half century on 49 runs after facing 50 balls to help guide their side to a defendable total.
Mitchel Mavunga put up yet another brilliant spell with the ball for the Northerns, claiming a five wicket haul. Mavunga finished with impressive figures of 5/46 in 7,4 overs while Adelle Zimunu took two wickets for 31 runs in her five over spell. Kelis Ndhlovu and Tasmeen Granger took one wicket each.
In their defense, it was Nyasha Gwanzura who put up a brilliant spell with the ball to help her team secure victory and avoid a whitewash. Gwanzura finished with figures of 4/33 in 7,5 overs while Beloved Biza had another outstanding performance with the ball for the Southerns, claiming three wickets for just 17 runs in five overs. Kudzai Chigora took two wickets while Josephine Nkomo took the other wicket that fell.
Pellagia Mujaji’s gallant half century was not enough to see the team through. She fell for 53 runs off 60 deliveries while captain, Mary Anne-Musonda scored 49 runs from 46 balls. Zimunu went on to pppscore 19 runs and the trio were the only ones who managed to cross double figures.
The series featured Zimbabwe Cricket’s finest female cricketers.
In the first match, the Northerns won by 22 runs after they had scored 217/8 in 50 overs and bowled out their opponents for 195 runs in 37,5 overs. In the second game, where there was all to play for, the Northerns managed to seal the series after a four wickets win. The Northerns bowled out the Southerns for 246 runs in 50 overs before they went on to chase down the target in 40,5 overs, finishing on 247/6
Online Reporter