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IT went down to the last ball and it was the Zimbabwe women who prevailed to make it two wins out of their two matches so far at the International Cricket Council Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand. It was sweet revenge for the Zimbabwe women in the Thai capital as their victory margin at the Thailand Cricket Ground was just how much the Netherlands had beaten them by two years ago, at the inaugural ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier in Ireland.

This time around the Zimbabwe women set a firm foundation for themselves when they were sent in to bat by their counterparts who had won the toss.

After captain Chipo Mugeri was caught by Esther de Lange off the bowling of Heather Siegers for four runs and Cher van Slobbe had Mugeri’s fellow opener Modester Mupachikwa caught by Christine Erkelens after a single run, to leave Zimbabwe two wickets down for 10 runs in 2.1 overs, the rest of the Zimbabwe batters made their presence felt.

Number three Mary-Anne Musonda made 19 runs before she was bowled by de Lange, number four Pellagia Mujaji made 15 runs before she too fell to the spin bowler, Sharne Mayers 22, Josephine Nkomo 19 not out and Precious Marange 24 not out.

Marange’s 21-ball effort, which included one four, and her work with the ball where she may not have claimed a wicket but went for 13 runs in four overs, saw her adjudged player of the match. Tasmeen Granger picked up one wicket for 13 runs in her four overs, to help restrict the Netherlands women to 108 runs for four wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Zimbabwe will play their third and final Group B match against Ireland tomorrow.

Zimbabwe, with wins over China on Saturday and now the Netherlands and Ireland, with wins against the Netherlands in their opener and China yesterday, have both won their two matches played so far, but Ireland are above Zimbabwe on net run-rate.

Thailand, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea make up Group A of the eight-team tournament. The top two sides from each group will make it to the trophy semi-finals, while the bottom two from each group will play in the shield semi-finals.

The two teams that meet in the trophy final on Saturday will join defending champions Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the 2016 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 finals, which will be played alongside the men’s competition in India from March 11 to April 3.

This is the second edition of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier, after the 2013 event was hosted by Ireland. Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualified as the joint winners then.

Scorecard
Zimbabwe Women – 110 for 5 in 20 overs (Precious Marange 24*, Sharne Mayers 22; Esther de Lange 2 16, Cher van Slobbe 2/ 25)

Netherlands Women – 108 for 4 in 20 overs (Sterre Kalis 49; Tasmeen Granger 1/ 13)

Zimbabwe Women won by 2 runs.

Zimbabwe squad:
Chipo Mugeri (captain), Christabel Chatonzwa, Tasmeen Granger, Sharne Mayers, Precious Marange (vice-captain), Audrey Mazvishaya, Thandakwenkosi Mlilo, Pellagia Mujaji, Modester Mupachikwa, Mary-Anne Musonda, Nomatter Mutasa, Josephine Nkomo, Nonhlanhla Nyathi and Loreen Tshuma — ZimCricket.