Story by Raynald Ngwarati
THE Zimbabwe women’s cricket team, the Lady Chevrons, crashed to a 42-run defeat to trail Ireland women two-nil in the five-match T20 International Series.
The Irish women’s cricket team continued with their dominance at Harare Sports Club this Sunday after beating the Lady Chevrons by 42 runs as they edge closer to sealing a series victory.
It was another tough day on the field for the Lady Chevrons who failed to find an answer to Ireland’s inform batter Amy Hunter who continued her scoring spree by adding a half century to her collection.
The 18-year-old who enjoys playing in Zimbabwean conditions scored 77 runs off 57 deliveries to propel the Irish to 172 runs for three in 20 overs, a target which proved to be too much for the home team.
Yet again the decision to bowl first backfired for the hosts as they fell short of the needed 173 runs to win, with the visitors moving to within a match of series victory.
Kellis Ndlovu tried every trick in her book to take on the Irish bowlers, but after the dismissal of skipper Mary Anne Musonda and Pellagia Mujaji, Ndlovu ran short of partners on the other end.
Ndlovu scored four fours and two sixes in her 52-run knock but succumbed to the pressure of wickets falling in clusters as Laura Delany tormented the Lady Chevrons’ batters.
Delany got four breakthroughs for just 12 runs in four overs as Zimbabwe struggled to challenge the visitors’ score of 172 runs.
Only Ndlovu, Musonda and Mujaji managed to get past double figures while the rest struggled to cope as Zimbabwe could only manage 130 runs for eight in their 20 overs.
The hosts now have a tough task to rescue the series on Tuesday when the two sides meet at the same venue for the third T20 encounter.
