Durham Women – 104 all out in 20 overs (Leah Dobson 23, Mia Rogers 21, Emily Windsor 21; Lindokuhle Mabhera 3/20, Kate Ebrahim 2/16, Kelis Ndhlovu 2/18)
Zimbabwe Women’s Select – 108-4 in 19.2 overs (Kelis Ndhlovu 36, Beloved Biza 22, Kate Ebrahim 14*; Abigail Glen 1/12, Katie Levick 1/12, Laura Trotter 1/21)
Zimbabwe Women’s Select won by six wickets
Kelis Ndhlovu delivered an outstanding all-round performance to steer the Zimbabwe Women’s Select team to a six-wicket victory over Durham Women in their first T20 match at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare on Monday.
Ndhlovu led the run chase with a top score of 36 as the hosts successfully pursued their target of 105, reaching the total with four balls to spare.
Earlier, she had made an impact with the ball, taking two wickets after the home side opted to field first upon winning the toss.
Durham were restricted to 104 all out in their allotted 20 overs.The Zimbabwean bowlers struck early, with Lindokuhle Mabhera removing Emma Marlow for just three runs, caught behind off the final ball of the second over – Durham Women stood at 11 for one at that stage.
Leah Dobson, Marlow’s opening partner, provided some resistance, striking five fours in a brisk 23 off 16 balls before falling lbw to Ndhlovu, leaving the visitors at 35 for two in the sixth over.
Mia Rogers (21) and Harriet Robson (10) steadied the innings briefly, but both were dismissed by Kate Ebrahim, reducing Durham Women to 76 for four after 13 overs.
At 89 in the 16th over, Emily Windsor, who also made 21, was stumped off Nyasha Gwanzura’s bowling.
Mabhera then struck again in the next over, dismissing Katherine Fraser for one, caught by Beloved Biza.
Four balls later, Abi Glen was bowled by Ndhlovu for 15, leaving Durham Women struggling at 98 for seven with 15 deliveries remaining.
The tailenders failed to add much, and the innings ended at 104 all out.
Mabhera was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets for 20 runs in her four-over spell, while Ndhlovu and Ebrahim took two wickets each.
In reply, the Zimbabwe Women’s Select team had a shaky start, losing Chiedza Dhururu (5) and Natasha Mthomba (2) within the first three overs.
However, a match-defining partnership between Ndhlovu and Biza followed.
The duo put on a 73-run stand for the third wicket, taking the score from 10 for two to 83 for three in 12 overs.
The partnership was broken when Katie Levick trapped Ndhlovu lbw for 36 off 50 balls, an innings that included four boundaries.
Biza carried on alongside Ebrahim, pushing the total to 100 before she was caught behind off Laura Trotter’s bowling for 22 in the penultimate over.
Ebrahim, with 14 not out, and Loreen Tshuma, with four not out, then saw the team home, with Ebrahim sealing the win in style, pulling a boundary to deep midwicket.
The two sides will meet in the second T20 scheduled for Wednesday night at Harare Sports Club.