Mary-Anne Musonda inspires Zimbabwe to fiercely-contested 20-run triumph over South African Emerging side

TSHWANE – An undefeated half-century from captain Mary-Anne Musonda inspired Zimbabwe to a fiercely-contested 20-run triumph over the South African Emerging side to take an unassailable lead in the five-match series at the Groenkloof Oval on Friday. Zimbabwe are ahead 3 – 1 with one match to play.

Musonda recorded six boundaries enroute to a game-changing 48 off 40 deliveries (6 fours), well-supported by Kelis Ndhlovu (41) and Sharne Mayers (33) as the visitors posted 158 / 7 despite the challenge posed by teenager Miane Smit’s notable figures of three for 23.

South Africa’s chase was restricted to 138 / 7 in their allotted overs following valiant knocks from SA U19 starlet, Smit (45) and Momentum Proteas capped all-rounder, Delmi Tucker (40), with Zimbabwe’s bowlers striking at crucial intervals to keep their side ahead throughout the innings.

After winning the toss for the first time in the series, Zimbabwe elected to bat first and that decision paid off as openers, Mayers and Ndhlovu laid the perfect platform with a 68-run stand for the first wicket, with Ndhlovu the aggressor before Nondumiso Shangase (2 / 22) made the breakthrough.

After picking up the wicket of Ndhlovu, South Africa made the most of their opportunities to cause more damage to the away team’s batting order as the young spinning duo of Seshnie Naidu (2 / 40) and Smit grabbed five wickets in the middle period to leave Zimbabwe 98 / 6 after 12 overs.

Having lost multiple partners around her, Musonda was asked to lead from the front with the willow as she restabilized the Zimbabwean innings alongside Christabel Chatonzwa (4), before combining brilliantly with Precious Marenge (12*) to take their side to a daunting total.

Musonda reached her milestone with the last delivery of the innings as she helped set her team up for a favourable result.

In reply, SA Emerging made an indifferent start at the crease as both opening batters, Anneke Bosch (4) and Elandri Janse van Rensburg (6) were sent back to the dressing room within the first three overs despite an enormous six off the bat of Janse van Rensburg.

With the score on 16 / 2, Faye Tunnicliffe (17) and Smit were tasked with a rebuild and went on by their work in a dominant fashion as they put on an exciting 32 runs for the third wicket before Tunnicliffe was stumped off a Ndhlovu (3 / 24) delivery as Zimbabwe struck back.

Although Smit’s new partnership with Shangase (5) didn’t last long, the rising star continued to showcase her talents in another pivotal stand with Tucker. Smit provided the aggression and flair while Tucker played with precision as they added 42 runs for the fifth wicket prior to Smit missing a ball that kept low from Marenge (1 / 16) to end her innings worth 45 off 30 balls (7 fours, 1 six).

With the dangerous Smith gone, Tucker and Naidu (16*) valiantly tried to keep South Africa on par with the required run rate but Zimbabwe continued picking up vital wickets before the SA Emerging outfit ran out of deliveries, falling runs short off of a series-levelling victory.

The win means Zimbabwe wrapped up the five-match T20 series with one match to spare. The fifth and final encounter gets underway on Saturday, 03 September at the same venue from 10h00 (SAST).

Audio and video featuring SA Emerging all-rounder, Miane Smit can be downloadedhere.

Result:
Zimbabwe Women beat SA Emerging by 20 runs
Zimbabwe Women: 158 / 7 after 20 overs; M. Musonda 50* (40), K. Ndhlovu 41 (29); M. Smit 3 / 23, N. Shangase 2 / 22
SA Emerging: 138 / 6 after 20 overs; D. Tucker 46* (29), M. Smit 45 (30); J. Nkomo 2 / 17, K. Ndhlovu 2 / 24

Audio and video featuring SA Emerging assistant coach, Claire Terblanche can be downloaded here.

SA Emerging 15-player squad vs Zimbabwe:
Micaela Andrews (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers Women), Nobulumko Baneti (Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies), Anneke Bosch (North West Dragons Women), Monalisa Legodi (Fidelity Titans), Simone Lourens (Fidelity Titans), Tebogo Macheke (Fidelity Titans), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies), Raisibe Ntozakhe (DP World Lions Women), Kayla Reyneke (Six Gun Grill Western Province Women), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies), Miane Smit (Free State Women), Delmi Tucker (Six Gun Grill Western Province Women), Faye Tunnicliffe (Six Gun Grill Western Province Women), Elandri Janse van Rensburg (North West Dragons Women), Caitlin Wyngaard (Six Gun Grill Western Province Women)

Tour Itinerary:
Women’s T20 Series vs Zimbabwe –
Saturday, 03 September @ 10h00 local time – 5 th Women’s T20 – SA Emerging Women vs Zimbabwe (Groenkloof Oval, Tshwane)

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ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications