Nkomo inspires Rhinos to victory, as Eagles’ unbeaten run continues

Tuskers Women – 121 all out in 31.1 overs (Tasmeen Granger 22, Nomvelo Sibanda 16, Sibonginkosi Ncube 16; Ashley Ndiraya 4/22, Josephine Nkomo 2/29, Kelly Ndiraya 1/18)

Rhinos Women – 122-2 in 42.3 overs (Josephine Nkomo 54*, Kelly Ndiraya 29, Mary-Anne Musonda 14; Nomvelo Sibanda 1/22)

 

Rhinos Women won by eight wickets

 

Skipper Josephine Nkomo led from the front with an unbeaten fifty as Rhinos Women overpowered Tuskers Women by eight wickets in a Fifty50 Challenge match played at Sunrise Sports Club on Wednesday.

 

She followed up the captain’s knock with two wickets to complete her player-of-the-match performance as her side bounced back from the defeat they suffered in their second match of the women’s inter-provincial one-day competition on Monday.

 

Nkomo won the toss and opted to field.

 

Tuskers Women were soon in trouble, losing opening batter Chiedza Dhururu for 10 in the third over after she was caught at the wicket off the bowling of Nomatter Mutasa.

 

Natasha Mthomba and Sibonginkosi Ncube stayed together for the next 10 overs and added 34 runs for the second wicket before the former was out lbw to Kelly Ndiraya for 14.

 

Off the very next legal delivery, Ncube perished for 16, caught and bowled by Ashley Ndiraya, and the score was now 51 for three within 14 overs.

 

Nomvelo Sibanda and Tasmeen Granger took the tally to 88 before they were separated in the 22nd over, Sibanda departing for 16 after she was bowled by Vimbai Kavava.

 

Granger stayed on for nearly seven more overs – losing Magret Musesedze (1) and Lindokuhle Mabhero (0) along the way – before she was the seventh out, for 22 off 54 balls.

 

At that stage, the team score was 111, but the tail could only add 10 more runs as the innings folded in the 32nd over.

 

Ashley Ndiraya was the most successful bowler with four wickets for 22 runs off her 6.1 overs, while Nkomo picked two for 29 off seven overs.

 

After such a fine performance with the ball, the two of them then came out to get the chase underway, the target being 122 runs from their allotted 50 overs.

 

At 11 in the fourth over, Ashley Ndiraya was run out for five, bringing in national team skipper Mary-Anne Musonda to partner her provincial captain.

 

The pair added 26 runs until Musonda was forced to retire hurt at the end of the 15th over after a fielder’s throw hit her at the back of the head.

 

She had faced 31 balls and hit a single four for her score of 14.

 

Kelly Ndiraya then came in to join Nkomo and the pair put on an 85-run partnership that tied the scores, with Kelly unfortunate to fall with only one run needed for victory.

 

She was caught at the wicket off the bowling of Sibanda for 29, with two fours, off 85 balls, bringing in Mutasa to complete the formalities.

 

First ball she faced, no run. Second ball, one leg-bye. And the match was done, Rhinos Women sealing victory by eight wickets in 42.3 overs.

 

Nkomo finished with an unbeaten 54, which included two fours, off 126 deliveries.

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Alliance Health Eagles Women – 187 all out in 45.5 overs (Precious Marange 48, Modester Mupachikwa 35, Kellies Ndlovu 29; Audrey Mazvishaya 2/18, Monique Mushanyi 2/24, Loryn Phiri 2/34)

Mountaineers Women – 127-6 in 37 overs (Pellagia Mujaji 45, Loryn Phiri 22, Nyasha Gwanzura 14; Kellies Ndlovu 2/16, Mitchell Mavunga 1/19, Olinda Chare 1/23)

 

Alliance Health Eagles Women won by 26 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method)

 

Alliance Health Eagles Women made it three wins in three matches while it was the third defeat in as many games for Mountaineers Women when the two sides faced off in a Fifty50 Challenge encounter at Old Hararians Sports Club on Wednesday.

 

After being put in to bat first, Eagles Women suffered an early double blow with both their openers, Alice Marongwe and Christabel Chatonzwa, getting bowled by Audrey Mazvishaya for zero and five respectively to leave the scoreboard reading eight for two in 4.2 overs.

 

Modester Mupachikwa, back to captain the side and playing her first match of the competition, and Kellies Ndlovu then stabilised the innings with a 68-run stand for the third wicket.

 

It was now 76 for three in the 16th over after Ndlovu, who scored a 34-ball 29, including four fours, was caught by Kudzai Chigora off a delivery from Nyasha Gwanzura.

 

In the 19th over, with only 12 runs more added to the total, Mupachikwa was bowled by Loryn Phiri for 35, with four boundaries, off 47 balls.

 

Precious Marange however took charge of the proceedings in her usual fashion, smacking six fours on her way to 48 off 61 balls before she was trapped lbw by Chido Mukaringe; 162 for six in the 35th over.

 

She had enjoyed a 51-run partnership with Adelle Zimunhu who contributed 28 runs to the team total before she became the eighth wicket to fall after Monique Mushanyi had her caught by Mazvishaya at 182 in the 42nd over.

 

The tail had very little to offer and the innings folded at 187 in 45.5 overs.

 

Each of the six bowlers used took at least a wicket, with Mazvishaya, Mushanyi, Phiri and Gwanzura claiming two apiece.

 

In reply, Mountaineers Women quickly recovered from the loss of Evelyn Chisingarambwi for a duck in the third over, as Phiri and Pellagia Mujaji together put on 62 runs in 17.3 overs.

 

Marange broke the partnership, with Mitchell Mavunga completing the catch to dismiss Phiri for 22, with one four, off 59 balls.

 

Soon after Precious Dzvifu was given out lbw to Mavunga for one, making the score 72 for three, Gwanzura came in to face two balls and complete that over, the 23rd, and then the match officials called the players off the field due to lightning as the heavens threatened to open up.

 

At that stage, Mountaineers Women needed 116 runs from 27 overs – Mujaji was on 31, while Gwanzura was yet to get off the mark.

 

The time lost during the bad weather break saw Duckworth-Lewis calculations coming into play and the target was revised to 154 in 37 overs.

 

Only 3.3 overs after the game resumed, Mujaji was trapped lbw by Chatonzwa, departing for a fighting 45, with six fours, off 79 balls – 94 for four and 60 runs still required off 63 balls.

 

When Gwanzura, who made 14 off 19, was caught by Mavunga off a delivery from Olinda Chare, 29 runs were needed, but with only nine balls remaining.

 

There was a wide, Mazvishaya got a single off the penultimate delivery, Patricia Mutembo was caught and bowled by Ndlovu off the very last ball and that was the end of the innings at 127 for six in 37 overs.

 

Mazvishaya scored 11 not out, as Eagled Women claimed their third victory of the season by 26 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis system.

 

2021/22 FIFTY50 CHALLENGE POINTS TABLE