The opening match of the Zimbabwe Women’s Regional T20 Tournament 2025 witnessed an exciting contest where Southerns Women edged out Northerns Women by 6 wickets with just 3 balls to spare.
Northerns batted first, posting a total of 124 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs, but their efforts were expertly chased down by Southerns, who scored 125 for 4 across 19.3 overs to take the series lead.
Northerns Women took to the crease at Old Hararians, Harare, aiming to set a defendable target. Loryn Phiri and Modester Mupachikwa led the innings with steady knocks, scoring 32 off 27 balls and 28 off 41 balls respectively. Despite limited big hitting, they managed to stitch crucial partnerships.
The Northerns however lost wickets at regular intervals, preventing them from posting a larger total. The Southerns bowling was led by Lindokuhle Mabhero who scalped two wickets, while Kudzai Chigora, Francisca Chipare and Josephine Nkomo claimed one wicket each.
In reply, Southerns Women showed resolve through their key batters. Kate Ebrahim made a significant contribution with 39 runs off 38 balls, while captain Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano held her nerve, scoring 38 not out from 52 balls. Their balanced and calculated batting ensured they kept up with the required run rate, closing out the match comfortably with a few balls remaining.
The Northerns bowlers also played their part early on, with Tendai Makusha (2/14) and Nomvelo Sibanda (1/32) picking up wickets to slow the Northerns’ progress. Despite this, Northerns’ middle order fought valiantly but couldn’t accelerate enough to make a more formidable target.
This victory gives Southerns Women an early advantage in the three-match series, demonstrating their calm and tactical approach in both batting and bowling. The Northerns will need to regroup and sharpen their strategies going into upcoming matches.
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