The Tuskers Women produced a composed run chase to defeat Mega Market Mountaineers Women by five wickets in the Zimbabwe Women’s T20 Cup 2026 at Bulawayo Athletic Club on August 19, 2026. Chasing 112, Tuskers Women reached 113/5 in just 17 overs, with Loreen Tshuma anchoring the innings with a well-paced unbeaten half-century. The result capped a game in which Mega Market Mountaineers Women showed flashes of control with the ball, but Tuskers Women kept their nerve through several changes of momentum.
Earlier, Mega Market Mountaineers Women were asked to bat first and their innings began with Chipo Mugeri Tiripano and Nyasha Gwanzura at the crease. Chipo got the scoreboard moving with two boundaries in her 25-ball 12, but her stay ended when Loryn Phiri trapped her lbw at 7.3 overs with the score on 37. Nyasha, meanwhile, struggled to get going and fell for a two-ball duck, bowled by Lindokuhle Mabhera, leaving Mountaineers Women in early trouble at 13/2. Shalom Mandovha attempted to steady the innings, contributing four from seven balls before Tendai Makusha dismissed her, and the Mountaineers were suddenly 37/3.
That early wobble brought Pellagia Mujaji and Audrey Mazvishaya together, and this became the defining partnership of the Mega Market Mountaineers Women innings. The pair rebuilt patiently before gradually accelerating, combining for 61 runs to take the side from 37/3 to 98/4. Audrey was particularly aggressive, striking four boundaries in a 27-ball 29, while Pellagia remained at the crease throughout the innings and finished unbeaten on 40 from 49 deliveries.
Audrey’s valuable contribution finally ended at 17.4 overs when she was caught by Gracious Nsingbo off Lindokuhle Mabhera, but the partnership had already given Mountaineers a platform for a competitive finish. Lindokuhle was the pick of the Tuskers attack with three wickets, while Tendai Makusha also impressed with 2/14 from four overs. Loryn Phiri returned 1/17, while Loreen Tshuma and Nomvelo Sibanda went wicketless, although Sibanda conceded only 20 from her three overs. Natasha Mthomba, used for one over, gave away nine runs.
The final phase of the Mountaineers innings saw further wickets but also some useful late runs. Passionate Munro went lbw to Lindokuhle Mabhera for a first-ball duck, leaving the score unchanged at 98/5. Kudzanai Chigora then added eight from nine balls, including two boundaries, before Lindokuhle completed her three-wicket haul by having her caught by Nomvelo Sibanda off Tendai Makusha at 19.5 overs.
Tuskers Women began their chase with little margin for error, and Kudzanai Chigora immediately made an impact by removing Lindrose Masina lbw for a two-ball duck, leaving the visitors at 0/1 after two balls. Loryn Phiri then took responsibility for the chase, scoring 23 from 21 balls with three boundaries. She formed a useful 24-run second-wicket stand with Natasha Mthomba, who made only one from eight balls before Nyasha Gwanzura dismissed her lbw.
Tuskers were 24/2 and still needed 88 runs, but Loreen Tshuma’s arrival changed the complexion of the innings. Tshuma settled into the chase while Loryn continued to attack, before Loryn fell for 23 at 7.1 overs, lbw to Passionate Munro, with the score on 43.
Tshuma then became the centrepiece of the Tuskers Women innings. She combined first with Chiedza Dhururu and then with Tasmeen Granger as the chase moved steadily forward. Chiedza scored seven from eight balls before Passionate Munro struck again at 9.2 overs, making it 57/4. Munro was outstanding with the ball, finishing with 3/24 from four overs, including three wickets, while Kudzanai Chigora ended with 1/25.
Nyasha Gwanzura was also economical, taking 1/14 from her four overs, while Audrey Mazvishaya went wicketless for 21 from three. Shanel Machado bowled one over for 13, and Catrine Chitombo conceded eight from her solitary over. Tasmeen Granger’s brief stay ended at 11.1 overs when she was caught by Nyasha Gwanzura off Passionate Munro for two, leaving Tuskers on 76/5.
With 36 runs still required, Tshuma found the perfect partner in Thubelihle Saidi. The pair put together an unbeaten 37-run sixth-wicket partnership that closed out the contest without further damage. Tshuma was fluent once she reached her rhythm, striking seven boundaries in a 44-ball unbeaten 50, while Saidi supported her with an unbeaten 10 from 15 balls.
Their partnership ensured that Tuskers Women did not allow the Mountaineers attack back into the game. Twenty extras also helped the chase, including 12 wides and four byes, and Tuskers eventually crossed the line at 113/5 after 17 overs. The five-wicket victory was built around Tshuma’s calm half-century, Munro’s earlier bowling efforts, and the late composure of Tshuma and Saidi.
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