ZIMBABWE Women’s cricket team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a World Cup Qualifiers group B encounter against the United States of America when they romped to victory by one wicket in a nail-biting encounter played at Takashinga Sports Club.
Francisca Chipare was the star of the show and Zimbabwe’s saviour, with the tailender hitting three boundaries to save the hosts blushes.
Chasing a victory target of 131 smart money would have been a routine Zimbabwe victory, but the USA women almost pulled off a famous victory.
Tara Norris set the tone for the USA in her first over in their defence of a low total, conceding one run, which was wide. The Zimbabwe openers Modester Mupachikwa and Sharne Mayers started off cautiously.
Mupachikwa got off the mark with a gorgeous off-drive for four off Sara Farooq.
Norris, who was bowling at a lively pace, continued being a menace to the Zimbabwe top-order bowling a maiden in her second over and was unlucky not to bag the wicket of Mupachikwa, who was dropped at gully on seven.
Mayers continued to be watchful, only got off the mark on the 11th delivery she faced, scoring two runs off Norris.
In the next over, Mayers, still on two, was given a lifeline when Kodali dropped her and to add insult to injury, she despatched the next ball for a boundary.
Once the Lady Chevrons got the hang of the pitch and the bowlers, they started scoring freely.
There was a duel going on between Mayers and Norris, who was unplayable. But Mayers showed her class when she drove Norris’s last ball of the seventh over through the onside for four.
Once the former captain got into her groove, Mayers was unstoppable. She went after Moksha Chaudry in the eighth over, whom she hit for two boundaries and a towering six over the long-on boundary as the over cost USA 17 runs.
Mayer’s who after ten balls was still to get off the mark, had now moved to 32 from 25 balls before she failed to connect a Kodali loose delivery and was caught by Lisa Ramjit.
57 for 1 became 59-2 when Mupachikwa tried to go for a booming drive only to find an edge and was caught behind by Sindhu Sriharsha, the wicketkeeper, for 22 runs from 34 balls. Norris finally got the reward she deserved.
The in-form Zimbabwe pair of captain Mary-Anne Musonda and Josephine Nkomo looked to steady the ship.
Musonda failed to trouble the scorers as Chaudry dismissed her for a 16- ball duck as she tried to break free but could only find Norris at cover.
It all went downhill for Zimbabwe from there, losing four wickets for 13 runs in three overs. USA were on top.
Norris, who had bowled seven overs on the trot, was called again by her captain or two more overs. She kept things tight as Zimbabwe was struggling at 87-7.
When Loreen Tshuma chipped one back to Akshatha Rao, it seemed like it was curtains for Zimbabwe at 97 for 8.
The ageless Precious Marange was now the key for Zimbabwe as they required 36 runs to win with plenty of overs to go.
USA had a spring in their step, and Zimbabwe dugout had a sombre atmosphere.
After the final drinks break, USA captain Sriharsha tossed the ball to her premier fast bowler Norris to bowl her final over and try to wipe out the tail.
The 23-year-old once again delivered for her captain, striking with her third delivery, the hard-hitting Marange was beaten for pace and was out trapped LBW. The Americans were just one wicket away from a famous victory.
The tournament hosts required 17 runs for victory off the last wicket.
It was tense.
Zimbabwe number 11, Chipare, did not look fazed by the situation as she hit Norris’s final delivery of the match for four.
Chipare continued on her merry wayfinding the boundary two times more.
When she hit the winning boundary, it was an anti-climax when umpires had to put the celebrations on hold as they confirmed with the scorers if Chipare’s boundary was enough to seal the match in favour of the home team.
Once the victory was confirmed, the high fives began.
A missed opportunity for the USA and a sigh of relief for Zimbabwe.
Earlier the USA played much better than they did against Bangladesh when they scored 38 runs in the powerplay.
Many of their batters had starts but could not convert the good starts into a big score. Zimbabwe’s poor discipline also helped them with the ball as they conceded 23 extras.
Skipper Sriharsha top-scored 22 runs, with Norris chipping in with 18 runs from 23 balls, including three boundaries.
Tshuma’s impressive bowling figures of three wickets for 19 runs from 10 overs, including two maidens, helped Zimbabwe bowl out the USA team for 131. She was duly named player of the match.
