Women’s T20 Cup Day 5: Mountaineers seal place in final

Tuskers Women – 129-5 in 20 overs (Loreen Tshuma 38, Chiedza Dhururu 21, Natasha Mthomba 19*; Audrey Mazvishaya 1/14, Andrietta Mathema 1/20, Nyasha Gwanzura 1/24)

Mountaineers Women – 130-2 in 17.5 overs (Loryn Phiri 36, Pellagia Mujaji 29*, Nyasha Gwanzura 23*; Tasmeen Granger 1/22, Loreen Tshuma 1/23)

Mountaineers Women won by eight wickets

Mountaineers Women have booked their place in the Women’s T20 Cup final after thrashing Tuskers Women by eight wickets in their penultimate round-robin match at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

Tuskers batted first on winning the toss, and did very well to reach a score of 129 for five wickets after the early loss of Sibonginkosi Ncube and Tasmeen Granger, both without scoring.

This was due to Loreen Tshuma’s fine batting as opener, as she began with a burst of quick runs and then consolidated to help her team after those early losses.

She scored 38 off 34 balls before being run out with the score now a much more encouraging 70 for three wickets after only nine overs.

The middle order batted consistently without quite being able to maintain this good rate of scoring, with a good partnership between Nomvelo Sibanda (15) and Chiedza Dhururu (21), while Natasha Mthomba scored 19 not out at the death.

Audrey Mazvishaya did the best among the bowlers, conceding only 14 runs off her four overs and taking the valuable wicket of Granger with a return catch.

Mountaineers had to bat well to haul down their target of 130, and this they did, especially as for once Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano did not feature largely, being the first batter out for an aggressive 19 off 14 balls – and Tshuma was the bowler to take her vital wicket lbw at 36 in the fifth over.

Mugeri-Tiripano’s team-mates got them home with some fine batting, though, as her opening partner Loryn Phiri went on to score 36 off 52 balls to lay a firm foundation, while Pellagia Mujaji and Nyasha Gwanzura, with 29 and 23, both not out, finished the job by scoring the last 49 runs in less than five overs.

Tshuma finished with the wicket of Mugeri-Tiripano for 23 runs in her four overs.

The margin of Mountaineers Women’s victory was eight wickets, and they played very well for it, but Tuskers Women deserve some praise for their spirited fight.

The last round-robin matches scheduled for Wednesday will decide who, between Alliance Health Eagles and Rhinos Women, will face Mountaineers Women in the Women’s T20 Cup final that has now been moved from Thursday to Saturday at Harare Sports Club. 

2021/22 WOMEN’S T20 CUP POINTS TABLE

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