ZIMBABWE women’s cricket lead the four-match Unofficial One Day International series against Thailand 2-1 following a five-wicket win at Takashinga Cricket Club in Highfield, Harare, this afternoon.
The hosts were desperate to bounce back after a disappointing show in the second match played at the same venue on Friday, where they lost to the visitors by 22 runs.
And as has been the script throughout the series so far, whoever wins the toss goes on to win the match.
Lady Chevrons’ captain Mary-Anne Musonda made the right call at the toss and put the visitors in to bat.
The decision immediately paid dividends as the locals put Thailand on the ropes, but characteristic of the Zimbabwe team, they lacked the killer punch to wrap up the innings when it mattered most.
From 14-5 to 84-6, Thailand skipper Naruemol Chaiwai patched her team’s innings together to 189 and got to a well-deserved 100 not out from 133 balls accounting for 12 boundaries in her marathon innings as the Asians finished ton 189/7 in 50 overs.
Seamer Josephine Nkomo picked three wickets for 42 runs in her 10 overs. In comparison, left-arm pacer Nomvelo Sibanda took two wickets, with Audrey Mazvishaya and Loryn Phiri settling for a wicket apiece.
Zimbabwe chase of 190 got off to a bad start after opener Ashley Ndiraya was bowled out on the fourth ball of the innings for a duck by Phannita Maya.
However, Modester Mupachikwa (52) starred in a 106-run partnership for the second wicket with Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano before the former was trapped lbw by Nattaya Boochatham in the 26th over.
Mugeri-Tiripano perished three overs later, caught by Maya off the bowling of Suleeporn Laomi for well-played 54 off 75 balls.
Skipper Musonda fell three runs shy of a third consecutive half-century in the series after she was run out following a mix up with Christabel Chatonzwa.
Precious Marange then hit the winning boundary to end the innings unbeaten on six runs together with Chatonzwa on 22 as Zimbabwe reached 192/5 in 43.3 overs.
The two teams regroup for the final one-dayer on Tuesday before they embark on a three-match T20I series
