Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Women’s High Performance Centre team opened their 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament campaign with a hard-fought six-run victory over Nigeria in Kigali, Rwanda, yesterday—setting the tone for what could be a promising run in the competition.
Coached by Steve Mangongo, the youthful side was sent in to bat first and posted 104/8 in their 20 overs. Christabel Chatonzwa top-scored, while Passionate Munorwei delivered a match-winning bowling performance to help restrict Nigeria to 98/7 in their reply.
Zimbabwe’s innings began cautiously, with the opening partnership between Chiedza Dhururu and Chatonzwa ending in the seventh over when Dhururu was bowled for 11 runs off 27 balls, leaving the side at 20/1 after 6.1 overs.
Chatonzwa then partnered with Loreen Tshuma in a steady 50-run stand for the second wicket. The momentum shifted in the 14th over when Chatonzwa, who had been anchoring the innings, was caught for a team-best 28 off 37 balls.
At 70/2, Zimbabwe looked on track for a competitive score, but a middle-order collapse followed. Tshuma contributed 23 runs from as many deliveries, while Salem Museka remained unbeaten on 11 off 11. The quartet of Chatonzwa, Tshuma, Museka, and Dhururu were the only players to reach double figures.
Nigeria’s Rachel Samson was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3/24 in three overs. Lillian Udeh and Kehinde Amusa took two wickets each to stall Zimbabwe’s momentum.
Defending a modest total, Zimbabwe made an ideal start, reducing Nigeria to 9/2 inside three overs. Munorwei starred with the ball, taking 3/20 in her four-over spell. Captain Nomvelo Sibanda led from the front, conceding just seven runs and picking up two wickets in her four overs. Mitchel Mavunga also chipped in with 1/23.
Nigeria’s chase was anchored by Sarah Etim, who top-scored with 19 off 16 balls. Amusa added 17 off 20, while Udeh remained unbeaten on 16 from 20 deliveries, but the Zimbabwean bowlers held firm in the final overs to seal the narrow win.
The Zimbabwe Women’s High Performance Centre team is competing in this year’s tournament alongside eight national teams from Brazil, Cameroon, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Their participation forms part of Zimbabwe Cricket’s long-term vision to develop depth in the women’s game, especially as the senior women’s team prepares to debut in the ICC Women’s Championship later this year.
Coach Mangongo has been running high-performance camps in Bulawayo, focusing on improving players’ fitness levels and sharpening skills for elite competition.
The Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament, launched in 2014, is held annually in remembrance of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Last year, a youthful Zimbabwe Women ‘A’ side finished as tournament runners-up.
Zimbabwe face Uganda in their next fixture on Thursday.
@brandon_malvin
