ZIMBABWE all-rounder Josephine Nkomo’s five-wicket haul went in vain as the Lady Chevrons succumbed to a 22-run defeat in the second Unofficial One Day International at the hands of the visiting Thailand Women at Takashinga Sports Club to level the four-match series one all.
Nkomo took five wickets for 35 runs in her 10-over spell, helping Zimbabwe restrict the Asians to 229 runs in their allotted overs.
Thailand’s total was built around a second-wicket partnership of 92 runs between Nattaya Boochatham and Wongpaka Liengprasert before Chiedza Dhururu stumped the former off the bowling of left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda for a well-played half-century.
When the Asian side looked like they were losing their way, they put up another good partnership of 53 for the fourth wicket on a slow pitch which became harder to score runs as the day progressed.
Thailand showed that they are learning very fast on this tour by scoring 30 more runs than they did in the first game, proving to be a winning total.
Zimbabwe in reply, made a strong start once again with a 44-run opening stand between Ashley Ndiraya and Christabel Chatonzwa.
Ndiraya, who was taking the attack to the opposition, edged a Boochatham delivery for 31 runs from 26 balls to the keeper.
Modester Mupachikwa did not trouble the scorers as Onnicha Kamchomphu dismissed her for a three-ball duck.
Five balls later, Chatonzwa was back in the hut. Zimbabwe were in a spot of bother at 44-3 after nine overs.
The Lady Chevrons were again looking at Nkomo and skipper Mary-Anne Musonda to bring back the run chase on track.
The two senior batters delivered again for the team with an 83-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Suleeporn Laomi gave the visitors the much-needed breakthrough when she bowled Nkomo through her legs. She scored 38 runs from 71 balls.
Musonda remained resolute and got to her second 50 of the series as the captain again led from the front.
The right-hander departed soon after getting her personal milestone, caught and bowled by Boochatham for 50 from 88 balls.
The job to see Zimbabwe over the line was left to the lower order batters to score 77 runs from 71 balls.
It proved a herculean task, and Zimbabwe girls had left themselves with too much to do towards the end as Boochatham took five wickets for 36 in her 10 overs.
The hosts had failed a spin test which is all Thailand bowls. Zimbabwe will have to put this performance behind and try to win the third Unofficial ODI on Sunday.
