Zimbabwe Women’s Select – 95 all out in 19.2 overs (Loreen Tshuma 35, Adelle Zimunu 12, Kate Ebrahim 8; Abigail Glen 2/6, Sophia Turner 2/18, Katherine Fraser 2/20)
Durham Women – 96-4 in 11.1 overs (Leah Dobson 60, Trudy Johnson 9*, Emma Marlow 7; Kate Ebrahim 3/17, Nomvelo Sibanda 1/19)
Durham Women won by six wickets
Durham Women levelled their three-match T20 series against the Zimbabwe Women’s Select team with a dominant six-wicket victory at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday night.
After winning the toss and opting to field, Durham put on a disciplined bowling display to restrict the hosts to 95 all out in 19.2 overs.
The Zimbabwe Women’s Select side struggled from the outset, losing two early wickets with just nine runs on the board after three overs.
Opener Natasha Mthomba departed for a duck, trapped lbw, while Kelis Ndhlovu managed a boundary before being bowled for four.
The other opener, Chiedza Dhururu, endured a difficult stay at the crease, scoring just five runs off 19 balls before being bowled in the seventh over, leaving the home side in trouble at 17 for three.
Beloved Biza followed soon after, dismissed for six off 22 balls, as the Zimbabweans slumped to 24 for four by the ninth over.
A brief fightback came through a 31-run partnership between Loreen Tshuma and Kate Ebrahim for the fifth wicket, before Ebrahim was bowled for eight off as many balls, with the score at 55 for five.
Tshuma continued to resist, forming another 22-run stand with Adelle Zimunu, but her promising innings ended in the 15th over with the score at 77.
She top-scored with 35 off 26 balls, hitting six fours and a six.
Zimunu added five more runs before Nyasha Gwanzura fell without scoring.
Two balls later, Zimunu followed for 12 off 13 balls, reducing the hosts to 82 for eight.
Francesca Chipare chipped in with six, while Nomvelo Sibanda remained unbeaten on three as the Zimbabweans were bowled out for 95 with four balls to spare.
Abi Glen was the standout bowler for Durham Women, finishing with two wickets for just six runs in her four overs.
Sophia Turner, Katherine Fraser and Laura Trotter also claimed two wickets each.
In response, Durham Women made light work of the chase, reaching 96 for four in just 11.1 overs.
Leah Dobson led the charge with a blistering 60 off 38 balls, striking eight fours and two sixes.
While no other Durham batter reached double digits, Emma Marlow contributed seven and Trudy Johnson remained unbeaten on nine as they comfortably secured the win.
Ebrahim was the pick of the Zimbabwe Women’s Select bowlers, taking three wickets for 17 runs in her three overs.
With the series now tied at one-one, the decisive third match will take place at Takashinga Cricket Club this Thursday at 1:30 pm.