Zimpapers Logo

Eddie Chikamhi

Senior Sports Reporter

ABSOLUTELY gutted!

This is how the Zimbabwe national cricket team coach Gary Brent described his feelings yesterday after his team came just four runs short of qualifying for their first ever major international tournament following the defeat to Ireland in the decisive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier semi-final clash at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Zimbabwe put up a brave chase after Ireland had amassed a defendable total of 137/6 in their 20 overs, after benefitting from some fielding errors from the Lady Chevrons along the way.

But the game looked within reach despite the early setbacks from the dismissals of Kelis Ndhlovu and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano.

It remained a cliff-hanger until the last ball, when Zimbabwe needed six for victory but the Irish bowlers could not let up, resulting in a single to take their tally to 133/6 at the end of their innings.

Still Brent was convinced the closely fought game could have gone either way. The former Zimbabwe international was saddened by the result, as he felt his charges put in a good fight.

“Absolutely gutted,” he said after the game.

“The girls had put in a lot of work. I am very proud of their efforts and to fall that close is agonizing. But I think all credit to Ireland. I think they handled the pressure better than we did and that’s all it came down to in the end…

“On a different day it could have gone either way. So they handled the occasion a little better than we did.”

Ireland grabbed the first ticket to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup finals to be held in South Africa next year. Two slots were available at this qualifying tournament. Bangladesh and Thailand were involved in the fight for the other berth.

Zimbabwe are now set to play for consolation in the third place play-off.  

They won the toss yesterday and asked Ireland to bat first. Star opener Gaby Lewis was dismissed in the Powerplay, but Orla Prendergast, fresh from her impressive knock last game, carried Ireland with a 25-ball 28 before she was dismissed in the 12th over by Kelis Ndhlovu t leave the scores on 66/3 after 11 overs.

But Rebecca Stokell’s 12-ball 26 gave Ireland a strong push towards the end. Zimbabwe will look back to the costly 18th over which cost 20 runs as Ireland took their score.

In the run chase, Sharne Mayers held the innings together for Zimbabwe with a 36-ball 39. Skipper Mary-Ann Musonda gave her good company with a 29-ball 31, the pair stringing together a fifty-run stand before Mayers was dismissed.

Arlene Nora Kelly and Jane Maguire took two wickets apiece and Zimbabwe’s required run rate got steeper once the skipper too was sent back. They eventually fell short by four runs as Ireland made it to the finals, ensuring their qualification to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa next year.

Scorecard:

Zimbabwe lost by 4 runs and Ireland qualifies for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Ireland 137-6 in 20 overs (Orla Pendergast 28, Rebecca Stokell 26* ; Nomvelo Sibanda 2-24, Kelis Ndhlovu 2-38)

Zimbabwe 133-6 in 20 overs (Sharne Mayers 39, Mary-Anne Musonda 31; Maguire 2-18, Kelly 2-27)