Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE High Performance suffered their second defeat at the Kwibuka T20I tournament, succumbing to a six-wicket loss to hosts Rwanda yesterday with eight balls left.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe High Performance Centre opted to bat first.
The Zimbabwe Women’s development side had a below-average start to their innings, scoring an average of 3.6 runs per over in the opening five overs.
Having managed to keep the Zimbabwe batting line-up under control, Rwanda claimed their first wicket of the innings in the sixth over with the dismissal of Nyasha Gwanzura.
Gwanzura was bowled out by Shimwamana Rosette.
Rossette was again back to haunt the Zimbabwe batting line-up, claiming her second wicket of the day with the first ball of the 10th over by bowling out Chiyedza Dhururu.
Loreen Tshuma was to return to the pavilion three balls later after she was run out.
At the halfway stage, Zimbabwe had 50 runs on the scoreboard for the loss of three wickets.
With the hope that the Zimbabwe High Performance side will improve on their innings in the last half, it was not to be as it turned out to be less convincing than the first.
Wickets crumbled.
Rwandese Ishimwe Henriette came in and tore Zimbabwe apart, claiming four wickets in four overs with an economy of 3.75, the second best for the hosts.
Henrette claimed two wickets in her first over in the 12th over.
She bowled out Loryn Phiri and Natasha Mutomba with the second and fifth ball of her first bowling over.
She went on to claim her third wicket in her bowling spell, dismissing Kelly Ndiraya before claiming her fourth wicket in the last over of the innings, bowling out Zimbabwe’s top run scorer, Christabel Chatonzwa.
So tight was the hosts’ bowling that they restricted Zimbabwe to 99 for the loss of eight wickets with two extras.
Chatonzwa led Zimbabwe innings with 41 runs.
Set to defend a target of 99, Zimbabwe left it late to claim wickets which could have changed the result.
Despite putting up some good bowling spells, Zimbabwe failed to convert the spells into wickets.
They claimed their first wicket in the 11th.
Mitchel Mavhunga was to break Zimbabwe’s wicket jinx with the second ball of her bowling spell before claiming her second and that of the country in the 13th over.
Zimbabwe went on to claim wickets in the 15th and 18th over, but they were not good enough to stop the hosts from claiming a six-wicket victory.
