Women’s T20 Cup Day 6: Rhinos end season with win

Zimbabwe Cricket women’s captain Mary-Anne Musonda

Tuskers Women – 121-8 in 20 overs (Loreen Tshuma 34, Chiedza Dhururu 22*, Anita Chisirimunhu 11; Josephine Nkomo 3/15, Diveniah Ndhlalambi 2/22, Vimbai Kavava 1/14)

Rhinos Women – 125-1 in 17 overs (Mary-Anne Musonda 57*, Ashley Ndiraya 55*; Philanthropic Shango 1/23)

Rhinos Women won by nine wickets

Ashley Ndiraya and Mary-Anne Musonda both scored fifties at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday to enable Rhinos Women to beat Tuskers Women by nine wickets in the last match of the tournament for both teams.

Tuskers Women batted first, and were able to build a fair total of 121 for eight wickets in an otherwise disappointing tournament for them.

Loreen Tshuma led the way with an innings of 34, opening the batting with Sibonginkosi Ncube (8), their partnership being worth 32 runs in 5.4 overs.

With Chiedza Dhururu playing a good game for 22 not out, Tuskers Women were able to pass 100 with only five batters out in the 18th over.

Anita Chisirimunhu also played a useful innings of 11 off only seven balls, which included two fours at a time when runs were needed quickly.

Josephine Nkomo again was the best bowler and took three wickets for 15 runs, while Diveniah Ndhlalambi chipped in with two wickets.

The Rhinos Women bowling was not at its best, and 31 of the runs scored by Tuskers Women came from extras, including 25 wides.

When Rhinos Women batted, they quickly lost the wicket of Kelly Ndiraya, bowled by Philanthropic Shango without scoring in the second over.

However, after that the weakness of the Tuskers Women bowling told against them, and Ashley Ndiraya and Musonda were able to score quickly and steadily to take the Midlanders home without the loss of another wicket and with three overs to spare.

Ashley finished not out with 55 off the same number of balls, with eight fours, and Musonda with 57 not out off 45 balls, with two sixes and six fours.

Although Shango took the only wicket to fall, her two overs cost 23 runs.

It is unfortunate for Rhinos Women that their previous match against Tuskers Women was washed out by rain, as a victory there might have qualified them for the final.

2021/22 WOMEN’S T20 CUP POINTS TABLE