THE Zimbabwe Senior Women’s cricket team got their World Cup Qualifier off to a false start after they lost to Thailand by eight runs denting their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in New Zealand next year.
The draw has been kind to the host as they were drawn to play Thailand and USA, which Zimbabwe were expected to beat on paper.
Now they need to beat the USA and either Pakistan or Bangladesh if they entertain any hopes of going to the Super 6 stage where the top three qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Zimbabwe were slow of the blocks chasing 248 for victory. Openers Modester Mupachikwa and former captain Sharne Mayers shared a 49 run opening stand from 101 balls.
Mayers was dropped twice when she was on six and 43 but could not make most of her life as she eventually perished on 47 from 80 balls when she holed out to Natthakan Chantham off the bowling of Suleeporn Laomi.
Josephine Nkomo was joined at the crease by her captain with the score at 108-2 after 28.3 overs. The pair set out to up the faltering run rate.
Musonda announced herself at the crease with a crispy cover drive for four. In the 32nd over, Musonda lofted the fifth ball for four. Then her trademark cover drive for four the next ball and when you see her in that mood, just know that a captain’s innings is on today.
She tried to hit Laomi for a lofted off-drive in the next over, but she miscued her shot and almost found a diving Tippoch at midwicket but could not hold on to a tough chance.
Musonda was strong in the v whilst Nkomo employed the sweep shot, which got her most of her boundaries. The two shared a third-wicket stand of 77 runs from 75 balls, Musonda 69 (65) not out and Josephine Nkomo 56 (65).
Just as the partnership was blossoming and looking like a match-winning one, Nkomo tried to glide a Laomi off-break to the third man but could only fend it into the gloves of wicketkeeper Koncharoenkai to give the Asians the much-needed breakthrough.
The Zimbabwe technical team got their tactics wrong when they sent in Christabel Chatonzwa with less than six overs to go and the required run rate creeping towards eight. Nyasha Gwanzura or Precious Marange would have been better options.
Zimbabwe got to the 200 mark in the 45th over with a four off Musonda’s bat to bring the winning equation down to 48 from 34 balls.
With seven wickets in hand and Musonda still at the crease, the Lady Chevrons still believed.
The game was tense, but the supporters stationed at the Castle Corner remained vocal as they cheered on the home team.
This match was going down to the wire. Both Musonda and Chatonzwa tried to go for boundaries. Still, Thailand’s disciplined spin bowling and superb ground fielding denied the tournament hosts the boundaries as the run rate kept creeping up.
Zimbabwe left themselves with too much to do at the end, requiring 25 runs to win in 12 balls. They only managed to get 16 runs to fall agonisingly close.
Earlier, Thailand won the toss and elected to bat, but the decision looked bad when Esther Mbofana, in the second over of the innings, got one to jag back and uprooted Nattaya Boochatham off stump five runs.
Thailand were, however, unfazed with the early set back taking advantage of Zimbabwe’s wayward bowling during the power play.
The Asian side built their total of 247 from contributions from Natthakan Chantham, Sornnarin Tippoch and Nannapat Koncharoenkai, who all perished in the 40’s.
Loreen Tshuma was the pick of Zimbabwe bowlers with figures of two for 35 in her 10 overs, ably supported by Fransisca Chipare, who took two for 50.
