Mountaineers Women win at last, as Rhinos Women reach final

Tuskers Women – 199-9 in 50 overs (Tasmeen Granger 33, Loreen Tshuma 28, Nomvelo Sibanda 27; Francisca Chipare 3/29, Loryn Phiri 2/23, Nyasha Gwanzura 2/54)

Mountaineers Women – 87-2 in 27.3 overs (Nyasha Gwanzura 35*, Loryn Phiri 35*, Evelyn Chisingarambwi 1; Anita Chisirimunhu 2/17)

 

Mountaineers Women won by two runs (Duckworth-Lewis method)

 

Defending champions Mountaineers Women finally recorded a victory in this season’s Fifty50 Challenge after they overcame Tuskers Women by two runs through the Duckworth-Lewis method at Sunrise Sports Club on Monday.

 

Mountaineers Women won the toss and opted to field first, but Tuskers Women were soon in trouble as opener Chiedza Dhururu’s batting woes continued.

 

She hit the third ball of the first over back into the palms of the bowler, Audrey Mazvishaya, to depart for a duck with only a single run on the board for her team.

 

Within 10 overs, they were down to 22 for three after Sibonginkosi Ncube (4) and Natasha Mthomba (3) were bowled by Francisca Chipare and Loryn Phiri respectively.

 

Thuba Saidi was the next to go, out lbw to Nyasha Gwanzura after scoring 12 off 29 balls; 60 for four in the 19th over.

 

The experienced pair of Nomvelo Sibanda and Tasmeen Granger now had the onerous task of rescuing their side and they duly put on the biggest partnership of the innings, worth 52 runs for the fifth wicket.

 

With the second ball of the 32nd over, the total being 112, Phiri struck again as she bowled Sibanda for 27, having faced 66 deliveries.

 

Loreen Tshuma walked in next and together with Granger they added 27 runs for the sixth wicket before Granger was bowled by Gwanzura for 33, which included four fours, off 70 balls.

 

Lindokuhle Mabhero was run out for four and when Chipare had Tshuma caught at the wicket having made 28, with four boundaries, off 45 balls, the score was now 185 for eight in 46 overs.

 

Isabel Mhlanga was the last wicket to fall, out for three after she was caught by Mazvishaya off the bowling of Chipare.

 

Anita Chisirimunhu (1*) and Philanthropic Shango (3*) then safely saw out the innings as Tuskers Women finished on 199 for five in 50 overs, their total aided by 81 extras including a massive 62 wides.

 

Chipare was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Phiri and Gwanzura each claimed two.

 

Mountaineers Women had a disastrous start with the bat, as Chisirimunhu bowled Evelyn Chisingarambwi for one and Mazvishaya for a duck off consecutive deliveries to leave the score at three for two in the fourth over.

 

Phiri and Gwanzura however stabilised the innings and were still together when rain interrupted play after 27.3 overs, with the total being 87 for two.

 

At that stage, Phiri had faced 94 balls and scored 35, including a single four, while Gwanzura was also on 35, containing three boundaries, off 58 deliveries.

 

With the players unable to come back onto the field due to the rain disruption, the result had to be decided using Duckworth-Lewis calculations, which gave Mountaineers Women victory by two runs – their first win in five attempts.

 

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Alliance Health Eagles Women – 227-9 in 50 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 49, Kellies Ndlovu 37, Alice Marongwe 28; Kelly Ndiraya 3/23, Josephine Nkomo 2/47, Ashley Ndiraya 1/33)

Rhinos Women – 152-6 in 50 overs (Josephine Nkomo 79, Nomatter Mutasa 32, Ashley Ndiraya 12; Kellies Ndlovu 2/31, Lianne Masora 1/11)

 

Alliance Health Eagles Women won by 75 runs

 

Josephine Nkomo once again performed with both bat and ball as she hit her third half-century in five games and took two wickets but it was not enough to steer her team to victory as Rhinos Women lost to the unbeaten Alliance Health Eagles Women by 75 runs at Old Hararians Sports Club on Monday.

 

Nkomo won the toss and chose to field first.

 

Opening the batting for Eagles Women, the experienced duo of Modester Mupachikwa and Christabel Chatonzwa seemed to be cruising as they put on 30 runs in 6.4 overs before Kelly Ndiraya bowled Chatonzwa for 13, a 21-ball effort that included a six and a four.

 

Kellies Ndlovu then joined Mupachikwa and the pair kept the scoreboard ticking, batting comfortably to take the score to 114 in exactly 15 overs.

 

Their 84-run partnership was broken by Ashley Ndiraya who trapped Ndlovu lbw for a fine knock of 37 that came off 52 balls and included five fours.

 

The half-century milestone continued to elude Modester Mupachikwa this season with another dismissal in the 40s.

 

This time round she was bowled by Nkomo for a brilliant 49, including six fours and crafted off 63 balls, leaving the score at 130 for three after 24.1 overs.

 

The total moved to 160 before Vimbai Kavava made a breakthrough for Rhinos Women, bowling Precious Marange for a run-a-ball 20.

 

Apart from Adelle Zimunhu’s 17 and Mitchell Mavunga’s 13, there were no other significant contributions with the bat before the Eagles Women’s innings ended at 227 for nine in 50 overs.

 

A huge total to chase for Rhinos Women and they started off going at three runs an over before Ashley Ndiraya was bowled by Ndlovu for 12 after 7.2 overs, with 21 runs on the board.

 

Ndlovu claimed another scalp two balls later, Kelly Ndiraya caught by Marange without scoring.

 

This brought Nomatter Mutasa and Nkomo together and they proceeded to put on a 71-run stand that was only broken when Mutasa was caught off Lianne Masora by Chatonzwa for 32; 92 for three in the 31st over.

 

Rhinos Women then lost Kay Ndiraya (1) and Dana Ndiraya (9) before Nkomo became the sixth and last wicket to fall at 152 for six, with only two balls remaining.

 

She had faced 124 balls and hit seven fours on her way to 79.

 

After her departure, Kavava came in to see out the innings without adding to the total, as Eagles Women sealed victory by 75 runs and maintained their perfect run in the competition.

 

Despite losing, Rhinos Women have booked their place in the Fifty50 Challenge final against their very same conquerors.

 

Before the latest matches, Tuskers Women had a mathematical chance of making it to the final of this inter-provincial one-day championship, provided they won their remaining two round-robin games while Rhinos Women lost their last two.

 

However, Rhinos Women were the ones to go through after Tuskers Women gave Mountaineers Women their first victory of the competition in the other match played on Monday.

 

Eagles Women had already secured their place in the final after winning their first four round-robin matches.

 

2021/22 FIFTY50 CHALLENGE POINTS TABLE