RWANDA Women have fired warning shots ahead of their final Group A match against log leaders Zimbabwe Women scheduled for Botswana on Thursday.
With eight points, Zimbabwe are a foot in the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier 2021.
On the other hand, Rwanda are in a must-win encounter to brighten their chances of progressing to the next stage as they are tied on six points with Tanzania, with only the net run rate separating the two sides.
Rwanda have an inferior net run rate of 3.289 compared to Tanzania’s 6.191, healthier than Zimbabwe’s 4.901.
The match pitting Rwanda now coached former Zimbabwe Women’s Cricket Team Assistant Coach Leonard Nhamburo is scheduled for 9.30 am while host Botswana take on Tanzania at 2.15 pm.
“We are here to win, so we have to play at our best,” Rwanda Coach Nhamburo told EnterSportNews.
“It’s a very crucial match. We need to get eight points with a good run rate so that whatever happens between Botswana and Tanzania doesn’t come into effect.”
Zimbabwe are sweating over the availability of the injured top-order batters, Modester Mupachikwa and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, while middle-order batter Christabel Chatonzwa has been sidelined for five weeks from a calf injury.
“We just said that’s their own problem (injuries in the Zimbabwe camp). We are just going to play the best cricket that will give us positive results,” added Nhamburo.
“On our side, not all; everyone is in good shape. That’s why today we have to rest so that we don’t put too much pressure on players bodies.”
Zimbabwe coach Adam Chifo hopes for a miracle that will see either player being cleared to play in tomorrow’s match.
“It’s quite a huge scare, and most likely they are going to miss the next match… quite a predicament, hoping and praying for at least one of them to give us a 50 per cent chance of recovery,” said Chifo.
