Hat-trick heroine Nomvelo Sibanda leads Zimbabwe Women to Capricorn Tri Series title

NomveloSibanda ZimbabweWomenCricket — Nomvelo Sibanda Zimbabwe Women Cricket

Namibia Women 70 all out in 13 3 overs. (Edel van Zyl 24, Nomvelo Sibanda 5-14, Precious Marange 2-16)

Zimbabwe Women 76-3 in 9.1 overs (Kelis Mdlovu 33, Mary Anne Musonda 21*, Shihepo 2-18)

Zimbabwe Women wo by seven wickets

Left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda grabbed a hat-trick as she helped league Zimbabwe Women to a seven-wicket victory over Namibia Women in the Capricorn Tri-Series final on Tuesday.

It was in her side’s second and her first over that she removed Arrasta Diergaardt, Kayleen Green and Sune Wittman, all four naught, as the hosts were reduced to one for the loss of three wickets.

In her next over, Sibanda then accounted for captain Yasmeen Khan for four, Sharne Mayers completing the catch.

At 10 for four, Namibia were in a spot of bother and needed some deliverance.

Edelle van Zyl was providing resistance, but she would become the sixth wicket to fall, for 24. At that point Namibi were on 55.

Adri van der Merwe gave it a go for her 13 but there was not much else happening.

And to put the icing on Sibanda’s afternoon, she grabbed the wicket of Sylvia Shihepo to complete a her maiden five wicket haul in Women’s T20 Internationals. She would return figures of five for 14 in 3.3 overs.

Namibia were bowled out for 70 in 13.3 overs.

Anesu Mushangwe took two for eight and Precious Marange two for 16.

In response, Zimbabwe lost Mayers early, removed for one by Wilka Mwatile. Kelis Ndlovu was the arrowhead in Zimbabwe’s attack as she blasted 33 of 21, in a 47-run partnership with Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano.

Ndlovu fell to Shihepo with the score on 50. Mugeri-Tiripano also departed at the hand of the same bowler with the scores level.

When the game was won, captain Mary-Anne Musonda was on 21 unbeaten with Modester Mupachikwa an anecdote on the other end having not faced a ball.

Sibanda was voted player of the match in a series.