Nkomo blitz gives Musonda winning start as Zimbabwe women’s cricket captain

Josephine Nkomo’s late flurry gave new captain Mary-Anne Musonda a winning start after her appointment as Zimbabwe women’s cricket captain with a six wicket victory over Namibia in the Namib Desert Women’s T20 Challenge at the Sparta Oval in Walvis Bay.

Josephine Nkomo in action for Zimbabwe against Ireland (PIC: Ian Jacobs)

Namibia looked on course to score well north of 100 before Nkomo took three wickets late on to return figures of 3-12 while restricting the hosts to 96-5 in their 20 overs.

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field first and while the hosts did not lose wickets until late with the top order putting together good partnerships. Adi van der Merwe top scored with 41 with Yasmeen Kahn making 20.

Moderster Mupachikwa led from the front with her 20 before she became on of Kayleen Green’s top order victims.

Next to go was Musonda who made 11 but it was former skipper Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano who stole the show with a 40 that gave Zimbabwe women the win with 11 balls to spare.

The second of five matches is on Sunday at the same venue.