The Zimbabwe Lady Chevrons will be hoping to give their Bulawayo supporters something to cheer about when they face South Africa in the fourth T20 International at Queens Sports Club on Thursday (this morning).
With the Proteas Women having already wrapped up the historic five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead, Zimbabwe’s focus has now shifted to avoiding a whitewash and claiming a consolation victory on home soil.
South Africa strengthened their dominance with an emphatic 80-run victory in the third T20I at Queens on Tuesday, in what was arguably Zimbabwe’s most difficult outing of the series.
The visitors posted a massive 200 for one, inspired by captain Laura Wolvaardt’s brilliant unbeaten 126 off 62 balls, before bowling Zimbabwe out for 120 in 19.3 overs.
Zimbabwe’s top order again struggled, losing their first six wickets for just 35 runs before Michelle Mavunga’s fighting 41 off 23 balls and Nyasha Gwanzura’s 28 provided some resistance.
Gwanzura, who was Zimbabwe’s second-highest scorer on Tuesday, believes the Lady Chevrons are gaining valuable experience from playing against one of the world’s top sides.
“Obviously, we’re playing against one of the top five teams in the world, so we are just getting experience from them, learning as we go,” she said.
Gwanzura said she has retained her attacking approach despite facing a higher level of opposition.
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“It’s a new experience, but I haven’t changed anything from my game. I’m still attacking, but just from the forefront now,” she said.
The 19-year-old admitted there were still nerves after only her third international appearance.
“Obviously, it being my third game, it’s a bit shaky, but we’re getting there,” she said.
Zimbabwe’s failure to rotate the strike has also contributed to their struggles with the bat during the series, with dot balls putting the top order under increasing pressure.
“I think rotation of strike has been a bit of a letdown, and the more you face dot balls, the more pressure you get. So, yeah, strike rotation,” Gwanzura said.
“We are building towards that goal.”
The series has been a landmark occasion for women’s cricket in Zimbabwe, with South Africa making their first visit to the country with their senior women’s side.
The difference in international experience and ranking has been evident, with South Africa sitting fifth in the world while Zimbabwe are ranked 16th.
However, the series has provided Zimbabwe with an important opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition, particularly with a number of young players coming through the ranks.
Zimbabwe Under-19 captain Lorraine Pemhiwa and her teammates Beloved Biza and Christina Mutasa were included in the senior squad after featuring at the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1 in Dar es Salaam last week.
The series also marks the first assignment for Mark Coles as Zimbabwe Women’s substantive head coach following his appointment this week.
For Bulawayo cricket followers, tomorrow’s encounter provides another opportunity to watch the country’s leading women’s players take on one of the strongest teams in the world at Queens.
Zimbabwe will be hoping the familiarity of home conditions can help them produce a stronger performance and keep the series alive for one more match.
The fifth and final T20I will be played at Queens on Saturday.
