A clinical bowling performance led by Esther Mbofana’s three wickets for 16 runs spared the Zimbabwe Women cricket team some blushes as the Adam Chifo coached side stormed into the finals after beating Uganda by 14 runs in the first semifinal of the ongoing ICC Africa Women T20 World Cup Qualifier in Botswana today.
Defending a low total of 109, Zimbabwe bowlers never allowed Uganda to get out of their sight as Esther Iloku was sent back to the dressing room by her namesake Esther Mbofana for four runs caught by Nyasha Gwanzura.
Rita Musamali did not trouble the scorers perishing for a two-ball duck, with Josephine Nkomo accounting for her dismissal.
Zimbabwe could smell blood; Uganda could sense this as an opportunity to send the Southern Africa nation and defending champions out of the tournament and book a ticket into the finals.
Bowlers had kept Zimbabwe in the tournament, and they did not disappoint as their coach Chifo paced up and down during the Uganda innings.
Wicketkeeper and opening batter Kevin Awino who was trying to anchor the innings attempted to take on the strong flexing arm of Patience Marange by going for a suicidal run. Still, Awino was found short of her ground when Nomvelo Sibanda broke the stumps. Uganda were three down for 25 runs after 6.3 overs.
Uganda captain Immaculate Nakisuuyi and Rachael Ntono kept their team in the game with a 30-run stand for the fourth wicket, but Marange produced the much-needed breakthrough when Loreen Tshuma caught Nakisuuyi for 18 from 29 balls.
One wicket brought two Stephani Nampiina dismissed for a duck adjudged leg before wicket off Tshuma.
There was no comeback for Uganda as Zimbabwe continued taking wickets and eventually bowling them out for 94.
Zimbabwe bowlers will have to be disciplined against Namibia if they entertain any hopes of winning the tournament. The Lady Chevrons bowlers conceded 17 extras against Uganda, and it nearly cost them the low scoring thriller.
Zimbabwe will have to thank Marange, who was voted player of the match after her 25-ball 40 that included three big sixes and three boundaries gave the team something to bowl at.
Marange summoned all her experience in the absence of other experienced players in the mould of Modester Mupachikwa and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, to book a date with Namibia in the final set for Sunday afternoon.
