Mountaineers, Eagles stroll to easy Women’s T20 Cup victories

Rhinos Women – 120-4 in 20 overs (Ashley Ndiraya 51*, Mary-Anne Musonda 19, Josephine Nkomo 14; Francesca Chipare 2/21, Loryn Phiri 1/13, Nyasha Gwanzura 1/22)

Mega Market Mountaineers Women – 121-3 in 16.2 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 67*, Pellagia Mujaji 25, Loryn Phiri 8; Mary-Anne Musonda 1/18)

 

Mega Market Mountaineers Women won by seven wickets

 

Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano played one of her finest innings when she made an unbeaten 67 that powered Mega Market Mountaineers Women to a seven-wicket victory over Rhinos Women in a Women’s T20 Cup match in Kwekwe on Friday.

 

Asked to bat first, Rhinos Women enjoyed a strong start with Ashley Ndiraya and Mary-Anne Musonda putting on an opening stand worth 43 runs in 5.1 overs.

 

They were separated after Musonda returned a catch to Loryn Phiri to depart for 19, scored off 18 balls with three fours.

 

Ashley was now joined by one of her two younger twin sisters in the team, Kay, and they added 41 before the latter was given out lbw to Francesca Chipare after contributing 11 off 21 deliveries – 84 for two in 12.3 overs.

 

The sibling affair however continued with the other twin, Kelly, coming on to the crease but the new partnership only lasted two overs, as the younger Ndiraya could only make a single run off eight balls before she was caught by Nyasha Gwanzura to give Chipare her second scalp of the match.

 

The captain, Josephine Nkomo, chipped in with 14 off 15 before she was dismissed at 113 for four off the final delivery of the 18th over.

 

Ashley carried her bat to finish on 51 not out, a brilliant knock that came off 59 balls and included three fours, as the Rhinos Women innings closed at 120 for four in 20 overs.

 

Chipare, with two wickets for 21 runs off her four overs, was the most successful bowler, while Phiri and Nyasha Gwanzura picked one each.

 

Mountaineers Women recovered from the early loss of Phiri for eight in the second over through a run-out to take their reply to 65 for two in nine overs, Rumbidzai Nire bowled out by Musonda for eight as well.

 

Pellagia Mujaji came in to join Mugeri-Tiripano and their 49-run stand for the third wicket took their team to within seven runs of victory with 31 deliveries remaining, the point at which Mujaji was run out for a 21-ball 25 containing two fours.

 

Three balls later, Mountaineers Women completed victory without suffering any further damage, winning the game by seven wickets.

 

Mugeri-Tiripano remained standing, having hit seven fours on her way to a magnificent 67 not-out off 52 deliveries.

 

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Tuskers Women – 60 all out in 17.2 overs (Natasha Mthomba 13, Lindokuhle Mabhera 10, Nomvelo Sibanda 10; Precious Marange 3/6, Kelis Ndhlovu, Christabel Chatonzwa 1/6)

Eagles Women – 64-2 in 11.5 overs (Kelis Ndhlovu 36, Modester Mupachikwa 23*, Beloved Biza 2; Thuba Saidi 1/2)

 

Eagles Women won by eight wickets

 

Defending champions Eagles Women strolled to an easy eight-wicket victory over Tuskers Women in the other Women’s T20 Cup match played in Kwekwe on Friday.

 

Put in to bat first, Tuskers Women struggled to get going with the willow, with only three of their batters managing to get into double digits before they were bundled out for 60 in 17.2 overs.

 

Natasha Mthomba top-scored for them with 13 off 18 balls, while Lindokuhle Mabhera and Nomvelo Sibanda made 10 each.

 

Precious Marange claimed three wickets at a cost of only six runs off the three overs that she bowled, with two falling to Kelis Ndhlovu for seven runs off the 14 deliveries that she sent down.

 

Ndhlovu then tormented Tuskers Women with the bat, smacking six fours and the only six of the game before she was run out for a 31-ball 36, with a total of 56 runs already on the board after 8.4 overs.

 

Her fellow opener, Modester Mupachikwa, was now joined by Beloved Biza with a simple task to complete the job but the new batter could only make two runs off nine deliveries before she was dispatched back to the changeroom, caught by Dineo Ncube off the bowling of Thuba Saidi.

 

Only one more run was now needed as Precious Marange came on, but it was Mupachikwa herself who sealed the victory in style by pumping a four past deep square leg, taking Eagles Women to 64 for two in 11.5 overs.

 

She finished with 23 not out, including three fours, off 30 balls.

 

2022/23 WOMEN’S T20 CUP POINTS TABLE