What next for Lady Chevrons?

Blessing Malinganiza-Zimpapers Sports Hub

THE Zimbabwe women’s cricket team, the Lady Chevrons, found themselves at the end of a disappointing campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Nepal.

The team finished at the bottom of their group without a single victory, a result that has ignited intense scrutiny of the team’s preparations and performances.

Placed in Group B alongside the Netherlands, Scotland, Thailand and hosts Nepal, Zimbabwe’s hopes of securing one of the tournament’s coveted spots for the 2026 World Cup were short-lived.

The team lost all four of its matches, culminating in a decisive six-wicket defeat to Nepal last Friday that sealed their fate.

Lady Chevrons coach Walter Chawaguta said they are disappointed as they wanted better.

“We are all very disappointed. We expected far more from ourselves than we displayed in this tournament. We struggled badly for ascendancy in our batting,” Chawaguta said.

“We simply couldn’t get going, losing too many wickets in the power-play. We were always playing catch-up from there.

“Our top order did not bat long enough or deep enough into the innings to make a meaningful impact. We didn’t bat long enough as a unit.

“We lost games in very small ways. We didn’t get the one-percenters right, even in bowling and fielding, which we needed to get us over the line in close games.”

Chawaguta believes batting was a challenge though the team is capable of posting good innings.

“Batting is a challenge. It is a clear challenge. We are good enough to score 140 to 150 runs regularly, but it didn’t come right in this tournament.

“Going forward, we must back our players’ ability, especially at the top, to get a good start in the power-play and find form.

“In the middle overs, our inability to rotate strike and build partnerships was key. We struggled to find gaps, pressure mounted, and we kept losing wickets.”

Chawaguta bemoaned the team’s continued trait of losing wickets early.

“Losing wickets early puts immense pressure on the middle order to consolidate rather than dominate. That is where we fell short.

“Our bowling generally was good, but we missed our lines too often with the new ball, giving the opposition a push start with extras. We need to get our young fast bowlers’ alignment and consistency right.

“But all their efforts couldn’t just go in vain without noting positives.

“A positive was our fielding, which was a huge improvement and on par, a department we expected to struggle in.”