Butter fingers cost Lady Chevrons World Cup berth
A Combination of butter fingers in the field and poor toss call, cost Zimbabwe the Women’s T20I World Cup berth in South Africa next year.
It was an all-round uninspiring show in the field as Zimbabwe gave away easy runs, while bowlers also gifted the Irish scorecard to set up a competitive score.
Captain Marry-Anne Musonda had a poor show in the field dropping two crucial catches that could have seen Zimbabwe restrict Ireland to a chaseable total.
Zimbabwe has lost to Ireland by four runs and will miss out on next year’s World Cup.
It was not the captain’s day in the field ,dropping catches while her bowlers also failed to restrict the Irish to at least 120.
Chasing 137 would prove a mammoth task for the Zimbabwe women’s cricket side who finished top of the group to qualify for the semi-finals.
Bowlers like 16-year-old Kelis Ndlovu were expensive in the middle, giving away 38 runs in her four overs for just two wickets.
Veteran Precious Marange took, 1-28 while pace bowler, Nomvelo Sibanda did not have a good day in the middle.
The great chase but Butter fingers cost Lady Chevrons World Cup berth
Zimbabwe’s chase would be an uphill task, with the opening partnership of Sharne Mayers and Ndlovu failing to create a solid partnership inside the first five overs.
Ndlovu would be dimissed for just 14 while Mayers gave a brave batting perfomance with captain Musonda.
Musonda was out to redeem herself following a bad day in the field, hitting 31 of 29 balls.
Her partnership with wicket keeper Modester Mupachikwa kept hopes alive as Zimbabwe crept back into the match.
But as soon as they went back into the dug out, Zimbabwe’s innings collapsed.
A thriller final over with Zimbabwe needing 14 runs off six balls kept a handful of vuvuzela blowing Zimbabwean fans on their tours.
Veteran ,Marange hit a four off the third ball, to keep hopes alive but with Zimbabwe needing five runs off the last ball, the 40 year old forced a single, gifting Ireland a win.
The Lady Chevrons however dominated the group stages winning their first two matches against Papua New Guinea and Thailand, while losing to UAE by four wickets.
For players like Marange, this was her only and last attempt at playing in the World Cup.
Ndlovu, Mayers and Mupachikwa were the leading lights of the tournament, inspiring Zimbabwe to the semi final.
