Zimbabwe Senior Women’s cricket marked two-year hiatus from international cricket with a 178 run loss at the hands of the visiting Pakistan cricket team in the first One Day International (ODI) Harare Sports Club today.
Zimbabwe’s joy was short lived as they were bowled out for a paltry 77 in 34.1 overs as they were chasing 256 for victory.
Lack of game time came back to haunt Zimbabwe as the girls were only in camp for about two weeks while their visitors came from tough series against South Africa.
None of the batters got going, and they were more intent on defending and letting the Pakistan bowlers bowl at them, which was a recipe for disaster.
No batter got going with only players getting into double figures at a pedestrian strike rate, Precious Marange 13 runs from 26 balls, and Pelagia Mujaji 16 runs from 40 balls. The next highest score was 12 extras conceded by Pakistan women.
Captain Mary-Anne Musonda was dismissed for a two-ball duck. Modester Mupachikwa 4 runs, Chiedza Dhururu 8 runs, Josephine Nkomo only added one run as the host capitulated to left-arm spin and Pakistan pace bowlers.
Earlier on, skipper Musonda won the opener toss and sent elected to bowl in overcast conditions, and they were duly rewarded in the third over when Pakistan’s opener Muneeba Ali was sent back to the pavilion when Ndiraya caught her off the bowling of seamer Nomvelo Sibanda for four runs.
Zimbabwe never allowed Pakistan to get away from them, and they struck again in the 10th over, with Esther Mbofana getting into the act by trapping Ayesha Zafar LBW.
The lady Chevron’s ground fielding was top-notch, pulling all the stops; Omaima Sohail tried to take on Nkomo’s arm but was run out when she threw the ball to wicketkeeper Mupachikwa who dislodged the bails leaving Pakistan 63-3 in the 16th over.
Nidar Dar was adjudged lbw to the bowling of Tasmeen Granger, and Zimbabwe was in control of the match.
After 34 overs, Pakistan was 144-4 and their captain Javeria Khan, who was playing the anchor role, started finding her range helped by Zimbabwe’s wayward bowling.
Khan top-scored for the Asian side with a valiant 81 runs from 116 balls.
Her partnership with Aliya Riaz took the game away from Zimbabwe, with the latter clearing the boundary at ease by scoring 74 runs at almost a run a ball.
Zimbabwe will have to put the disappointment of losing the first ODI behind and focus on staying in the game for 100 overs if they entertain any hopes of winning any games.
The batting has to come to party and score some runs; they have to come out of their shells and be aggressive instead of allowing Pakistan to bowl at them.
The second ODI will be played at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
