Tshuma finished with the impressive figures of four wickets for 11 runs off her four overs, a performance that duly earned her the player of the match accolade.

Zimbabwe Women sail through to semi-final

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Zimbabwe Women – 142-4 in 20 overs (Mary-Anne Musonda 34, Chiedza Dhururu 27, Ashley Ndiraya 24; Sifa Ingabire 2/29, Alice Ikuzwe 1/16, Belyse Murekatete 1/22)

Rwanda Women – 90-9 in 20 overs (Sarah Uwera 39, Henriette Ishimwe 11, Belyse Murekatete 7*; Loreen Tshuma 4/11, Nomvelo Sibanda 2/21, Loryn Phiri 1/16)

 

Zimbabwe Women won by 52 runs

 

Zimbabwe Women are through to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Africa semi-finals after they defeated Rwanda Women by 52 runs in their final group match in Gaborone on Thursday to make it five wins in as many games.

 

They will now face Uganda Women in the last-four clash at the regional qualifying tournament in the Botswana capital on Friday.

 

In their final Group A encounter, Rwanda won the toss and sent Zimbabwe in to bat first.

 

Ashley Ndiraya and Chiedza Dhururu put up an opening partnership of 50 runs which was only broken in the ninth over when the latter was caught and bowled for 27 by Sifa Ingabire.

 

Ingabire struck again in the 11th over, bowling Ndiraya who was on 24 and reducing Zimbabwe to 67 for two.

 

With the two openers gone, the captain Mary-Anne Musonda and vice Josephine Nkomo then added 35 runs in a third-wicket stand that took the team total past 100 with nearly four overs to go.

 

At 102, Nkomo was dismissed for 15 after she was caught by Gisele Ishimwe off a delivery from Alice Ikuzwe.

 

With 18 runs more added to the total, Musonda was bowled for 34 off the first ball of the 18th over.

 

Zimbabwe however saw out the remaining deliveries without any further damage to close their innings on 142 for four in 20 overs.

 

Precious Marange, who hit two fours off the first two balls she faced, finished unbeaten on 16, while Tasmeen Granger was on 17 not out.

 

In their reply, Rwanda only had two batters with double figures despite having a solid start.

 

The first wicket fell after 7.4 overs when Gisele Ishimwe (11) was dismissed by Nomvelo Sibanda, with Granger completing the catch.

 

Off the very next ball, Sibanda sent Cathia Uwamahoro back to the change-room for a golden duck and Rwanda were now down to 22 for two.

 

Sarah Uwera and their captain Marie Bimenyimana however put up some resistance with a 35-run stand for the third wicket that lifted their total to 57.

 

The pair was parted in the 14th over, when Bimenyimana departed for seven, the bowler being Loreen Tshuma and Granger recording her third catch of the match.

 

In the 16th over, Tshuma accounted for the big wicket of Uwera who was sent packing for 39, having faced 55 balls.

 

The same bowler went on to claim the scalps of Flora Irakoze (5) and Henriette Ishimwe (0), while she was also involved in the run-out of Sifa Ingabire (5) as Rwanda could only muster a total of 90 for nine in their 20 overs, giving Zimbabwe a massive 52-run victory.

 

Tshuma finished with the impressive figures of four wickets for 11 runs off her four overs, a performance that duly earned her the player of the match accolade.