They may not have qualified for the World Cup, but Zimbabwe’s women have put in a creditable performance in this tournament, securing 5th place after another convincing win over Scotland. Batting firs, Zimbabwe scored 236/6 from their 50 overs, with Yvonne Rainsford (69), Sinikiwe Mpofu (48) and Julia Chibhabha (48*) forming the backbone of the innings. For the Scots, Fiona Campbell took 2/44. Scotland were then skittled out for 75, with Julia Chibhabha taking 4/16 and Precious Marange 3/22 on the way to a convincing 161-run victory.
Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe 236/5 (50 overs; Rainsford 69, Campbell 2/44), Scotland 75 (32.5 overs; ‘Extras’ 27, Anderson 13, Chibhabha 4/16). Zimbabwe win by 161 runs.
Continue reading ‘Zimbabwe Women Finish 5th in World Cup Qualifiers’
Zimbabwe’s women won’t be qualifying for the World Cup, or gaining Test status, after they lost their final group match to Ireland on Thursday (21st). Batting first, Ireland powered their way to 305/5 from their 50 overs, led by Isobel Joyce’s 70 (and 40 extras from Zimbabwe’s bowlers did no harm, either). The only Zimbabwean not to have a go with the ball was ‘keeper Nonthlanthla Nyathi - of the 10 that bowled, captain Julia Chibhabha was the most effective, with 2/40 off her 10 overs.
In reply, Zim were equally out of their depth - Emily Jinjik and Yvonne Rainsford top-scored on 14 each, as Zim were bowled out for 97 in 30 overs. The side now go on to the 5th-place playoffs, where they meet Bermuda on Friday - give the Caribbean side’s inept display against South Africa earlier in the tournament, this should be one match the women will be assured of winning… Scorecard below the cut.
Ireland 305/5 (50 overs; Joyce 70, Chibhabha 2/40), Zimbabwe 97 (Jinjika 14, Rainsford 14, Joyce 4/10). Ireland win by 208 runs.
Continue reading ‘Zim Women Miss Out on World Cup After Loss to Ireland’
Zimbabwe’s women suffered a turnaround in fortune in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers this morning, as Pakistan overpowered them in a one-sided match in Stellenbosch. Batting first, Zimbabwe posted just 58 before being bowled out, with none of their players reaching double figures - Emily Jinjika’s 9 was the best of a poor bunch, while Pakistan helped them along by adding 20 extras to the total. Sana Mir took 3/7 from 6 overs. In reply, Pakistan - who unlike Zimbabwe hold Test status in the women’s game - rattled off the required runs in 13 overs, for the loss of just one wicket.
Scorecard below the cut. In today’s other Pool B match, Ireland beat Scotland by 9 wickets, a result that leaves Pakistan top of the group, with Ireland ahead of Zimbabwe on Net Run Rate - making their meeting on Thursday a crunch game for both sides.
Zimbabwe 58 (35.3 overs; Jinjika 9, “Extras” 20, Sana Mir 3/7), Pakistan 59/1 (13 overs; Bismah Maroof 25*, Jinjika 1/15). Pakistan win by 9 wickets.
Continue reading ‘Zim Women Fall to Pakistan’
Zimbabwe’s women got off to a good start in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, with a win against Scotland in their opening match. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Zim set a target of 147 - Scotland were able to bowl them out in 39 overs, but Yvonne Rainsford (37) and Precious Marange (22) set the foundations for what proved to be a winning score. For the Scots, Kathryn White took 2/5 from her 8 overs.
In reply, Scotland’s biggest ally was Zimbabwe’s wayward bowling - the African side conceded 22 runs through wides, outscoring the Scot’s best batswoman (captain Fiona Urqhart, who scored 10) by over 2:1. That still left Scotland well short of the chase, and with Zim’s bowlers taking wickets almost at will, it was soon all over - Scotland were bowled out for 72, with Yvonne Rainsford and Emily Jinjika both taking 2/7 from 6 overs.
An excellent start for Zimbabwe, then, and Julia Chibhabha’s comments about reaching the final maybe don’t look so far-fetched after all. Full scorecard for this match is below the cut - Zimbabwe’s next match is against Pakistan, tomorrow (19th).
Zimbabwe 147 (39/50 overs; Rainsford 37, White 2/5), Scotland 72 (31.2 overs; Urqhart 10, Rainsford 2/7, Jinjika 2/7). Zimbabwe win by 75 runs.
Continue reading ‘Zim Women Off to a Flyer in Stellenbosch’
Captain of Zimbabwe’s women’s side, Julia Chibhabha, has her eyes on a place in the finals of the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers that get under way today (Monday) - although in an interview on the ICC website, she admits that a realistic assessment of the side’s chances won’t be possible until after their opening match against Scotland:
“I think our chances are just as good as any other team at the moment. After tomorrow, we’ll be able to see how far we can go in this tournament. But I’m very confident that we’ll get to the Final, but it might be a difficult task.”
ICC - Zimbabwe Skipper confident ahead of opener
Zimbabwe’s women’s side is due to leave for the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa on Saturday, and team manager Joyca Chizano is confident her team are ready for the challenge:
“The girls just want the matches to begin. We have gone through all the areas which we needed to rectify going into the tournament, and we are at a point now where we feel we can play tomorrow.”
Zim’s first match is against Scotland, and Chizano seems to have done her homework:
“We have studied how they play and we are confident that we will get a positive result from that game.”
Hopefully the results will bear out her confidence. The Scotland match is on 19th February.
Zimbabwe Cricket - We can play tomorrow: Zim women’s manager
Zimbabwe’s preparations for this month’s Women’s World Cup qualifiers in South Africa haven’t been going as well as ZC would have liked - first, a number of practice matches that were due to take place in Harare had to be cancelled due to poor weather. ZC are hoping to reschedule the matches, against Prince Edward and Eaglesvale school sides, before the side is due to leave for South Africa on the 16th, but no dates have been set as yet.
All-rounder Siphatisiwe Moyo has also had to drop out of the side after contracting appendicitis.
Zimbabwe’s fixture list for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa are now available on the Fixtures page.
The Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, originally scheduled for Pakistan last November and recently re-scheduled to February, will now take place in South Africa between 18-24 February. The tournament dates clash with Pakistan’s rescheduled general election - for security reasons, the ICC did not want the tourney to take place during the election, and no other dates were suitable. The games will now be hosted by the Boland Cricket Union, and will be played in and around Stellenbosch.
I don’t have the full match schedule yet, but will post it when it’s available.
ICC - ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier moved to South Africa
The ICC have announced that the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to take part in Lahore from 19-25 November, have been postoned following recent events there & a subsequent security assessment. The PCB aren’t exactly happy with the decision - PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf insisted that Pakistan would have been able to hold the tournament safely & on schedule:
“We have advised the ICC we feel the event could have been staged as scheduled in two weeks’ time in a safe and secure environment. We remain more than capable of – and committed to – hosting international cricket and we look forward to welcoming teams to Pakistan in the future.”
The ICC don’t agree, however, and it’s their word that counts. Over to ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed:
“It is extremely regrettable this decision has had to be taken. We remain committed to international cricket being played in Pakistan but, sadly, events beyond the control of the ICC and the PCB have conspired against us on this occasion.
“As recently as 25 October, the ICC Women’s Committee reaffirmed its commitment to staging the event, as scheduled, in Lahore. However the heightened state of tension within the country over the past few days represents a change in circumstances that we have a duty to consider.
“Safety and security of all participants is a priority and on the basis of the independent advice we have received – as well as the material concerns expressed by many of the participating countries – we concluded it is not appropriate to stage the tournament at this time.”
No news yet on if the tournament is to be held elsewhere, or held in Pakistan once the situation there has normalised.
ICC - ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier postponed