The Zimbabwe Women’s cricket team, the Lady Chevrons, kicked off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier campaign in style with a hard-fought 32-run win over hosts Namibia in Windhoek on Sunday.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Zimbabwe found themselves in a cautious position at the halfway stage on 58/2, with Loreen Tshuma unbeaten on 5 and skipper Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano on 1. However, a composed and determined batting effort in the second half of the innings saw the Lady Chevrons post a competitive total of 133/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Namibia, known for their sharp bowling and aggressive batting at home, struggled to keep up with the chase. Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling attack applied consistent pressure, restricting the hosts to 101/8 in their 20 overs. Despite a brief late push from Namibia’s middle order, the Lady Chevrons held their nerve to secure a crucial opening victory.
The win not only boosts team morale but also gives Zimbabwe valuable momentum for the rest of the tournament. With eight nations battling in Windhoek for just two spots in the global qualifiers, every win counts, and this opening triumph has put the Lady Chevrons in a promising position early in the tournament.
Having entered the series with recent experience from their July tour of Ireland, Zimbabwe’s adaptability and growing confidence were evident in the way they handled the pressure against a strong Namibian side.
With a winning start under their belt, the Lady Chevrons will look to build on this performance and continue their push towards securing a coveted berth in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers.
