Tanzania Women – 36 for 8 in 20 overs (Mwanaidi Swedi 14, Tabu Omary 6; Nomatter Mutasa 3/6, Precious Marange 2/6)

Zimbabwe Women – 38 for 1 in 9 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 20, Precious Marange 18*; Latifa Salumu 1/6)

Zimbabwe won by nine wickets.

Zimbabwe barely broke a sweat as they walloped Tanzania by nine wickets in the opening match of the 2016 ICC Women’s World Twenty 20 Africa Qualifier tournament played at Harare’s Alexandra Sports Club on Saturday morning.

After winning the toss and electing to field, the hosts bowled and fielded superbly to restrict Tanzania to 36 for eight wickets in their 20 overs, with Nomatter Mutasa grabbing three wickets for six runs and Precious Marange taking two for six.

Debutante Nomvelo Sibanda and Josephine Nkomo claimed a wicket apiece.

Tanzania’s best effort with the bat came from captain Mwanidi Swedi who laboured to 14 runs off 46 balls, while Tabu Omary was their second best batter with six runs, which included her team’s only boundary of their entire innings.

Their total could have been lower were Zimbabwe not a bit hospitable with nine extras.

Despite the modest target, Zimbabwe seemed not eager for a quick kill, with openers Modester Mupachikwa and Marange coolly stealing ones and twos without being tempted to take risks.

Mupachikwa perished on 20, but in the next two balls Marange blasted her second boundary of the innings to end the match as she finished unbeaten on 18.

Meanwhile, across town at the Country Club, Kenya beat Uganda by 13 runs in the other qualifier played in the morning.

In the afternoon fixtures, Zimbabwe are playing Uganda at Alexandra Sports Club while Kenya are facing Tanzania at the Country Club.