By OnSport Reporter
Zimbabwe Women’s High Performance XI will face Tanzania Women in the Kwibuka Women’s Twenty20 Tournament this afternoon after beating Uganda Women by a single run at the Gahanga B ground in Rwanda.
After being sent to bat first, the Zim HPC were unconvincing with the bat, scoring 93-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Loryn Phiri top-scored with 32 runs from 20 balls, and besides her, no one really stuck around for long for HPC.
However, it was the bowlers who did the trick, as Uganda were bowled out for 92 after 19.1 overs. Player of the match, Nomvelo Sibanda, was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets in four overs and conceding 17 runs. Lindokuhle Mabhero’s economical two overs, in which she went for 3.50 per over and took one wicket, were also key.
The Zim HPC will take on Tanzania at 1:30 pm in the final at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium. Tanzania beat the hosts, Rwanda, to make it through, but they have already lost to the Zim HPC during the group phase.
The team’s participation in the Kwibuka tournament forms part of ZC’s long-term strategy to build depth in the women’s game, especially as Zimbabwe Women prepare to debut in the ICC Women’s Championship later this year.
Coach Steven Mangongo has been leading high-performance camps in Bulawayo, focused on improving players’ fitness and sharpening their skills for elite-level competition.
The Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament was launched in 2014 and is held annually.
A youthful Zimbabwe ‘A’ Women’s side finished as runners-up last year.
