Series: Capricorn Tri-Series Apr 2022
Venue: CCD Field, Windhoek
Format: T20I
Toss: Namibia
Result: Zimbabwe by 67 runs

Zimbabwe Openers Carry Their Bats

An unbeaten partnership of 156 from Zimbabwe opening batters was the highest opening stand from the team and ensured victory over Namibia by 67 runs in the last match of the tournament before both teams meet again in the final.

Irene van Zyl won the toss for Namibia and may have regretted that move after the first two overs. Neither Sharne Mayers (68*) nor fellow opener Kelis Ndlovu (58*) could get bat near ball. Only five runs came from the bat in the first two overs, the Namibian bowlers generously gifting 11 runs via wides. It was to set the template for the innings. Wides and dropped catches ensure the Lady Chevrons plundered their way to success.

Mayers played a delightful cut to the boundary in the third over and followed that up with two more boundaries. Her driving throughout the innings was a particular strong point.

Ndlovu was more subdued during the Powerplay but then began to become more adventurous as the innings went on. The 50 came up in the seventh over and it was in the eighth where the teenager stepped on the gas, first with an exquisite late cut to the boundary – the shot of the match – and followed up with a copybook sweep.

Both players breached the boundary once each and the pair continued until the overs ran out, notching up 156 for the loss of no wickets after twenty overs.

Sune Wittmann (27) and Jurriene Diergaardt (21) began brightly for Namibia and it looked like we might be treated to a repeat of the previous innings, but running between the wickets brought about the downfall of both batters. From that point the required run rate climbed and Namibia never looked a chance from there. To add salt into the wounds, a rare over from Mayers took the wicket of Kayleen Green, caught by Ndlovu.

Mayers was named Player of the Match and Zimbabwe a comprehensive victory over the team they will meet in the final.

Scores:

Zimbabwe 156/0 (Sharne Mayers 68*, Kelis Ndlovu 58*) 20 overs
Namibia 89/6 (Sune Wittmann 27, Jurriene Diergaardt 21, Francisca Chipare 2-18) 20 overs

Player of the Match: Sharne Mayers