In Match 11 of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2026, Zimbabwe Under-19 delivered a clinical bowling performance followed by a sharp run-chase to triumph over Namibia Under-19. The encounter at Dar-es-Salaam saw low scores, heavy momentum shifts, and disciplined spells from both bowling lineups.
Opting to bat, Namibia U19 got off to an incredibly rocky start as opener Eviste Iiyambo was cleaned up for a 4-ball duck by Buhlebenkosi Maposa. Disastrous running in the early overs compounded their problems when captain Unombuiro Kaanjosa fell for 0 off 1 ball after a sharp run-out executed by Sharmaine Manyukwi and Maposa. Shortly after, Maposa struck again, trapping Namutenya Thomas lbw for a 9-ball duck. Felicity Mpofu then entered the attack to bowl Rihanna Unondjara for 1 run off 4 balls, leaving Namibia staggering at 11/4. Maposa completed her initial destruction by having Veronika Tobias caught by Salem Museka for 1 off 5 balls.
Amidst the early collapse, Elly Kambonde played a courageous solo hand. Joining forces with Vorster Alexa (9 off 18 balls), Kambonde constructed a vital 30-run 6th-wicket partnership to stabilize the innings. However, Salem Museka broke the resistance by clean bowling Alexa. Namibia’s middle order quickly unravelled further as Jani-Mari Van Heerden was run out for 1 off 3 balls, and Mea Meyer fell for a 1-ball duck, caught by Vanessa Mayedza off Museka. Zanelle Steyn then stepped up to support Kambonde in a brilliant 35-run 9th-wicket stand, striking 17 off 20 balls with 3 boundary fours before falling to a run-out.
Mpofu wrapped up the innings by trapping Monique Muller lbw for 1 off 3 balls. Kambonde remained undefeated with a heroic 45* off 43 balls (6 fours), while extras added 11 runs to close Namibia’s total at 86 all out in 18.2 overs. Zimbabwe’s bowling attack stood out, led by Player of the Match Buhlebenkosi Maposa with 3/18 (4 overs), Felicity Mpofu with 2/8 (3.2 overs), and Salem Museka with 2/10 (3 overs). Vanessa Mayedza (0/11), Beloved Biza (0/12), Tadiwa Garutsa (0/10), and Bethel Zinyama (0/10) provided tight control throughout.
Chasing a modest target of 87, Zimbabwe U19 suffered an instant setback when opener Lorraine Pemhiwa was caught by captain Kaanjosa off Eviste Iiyambo for a 3-ball duck on the third ball of the chase. Despite the early shock, Beloved Biza injected immediate tempo into the reply, blasting 19 runs off just 9 balls with 4 boundaries in a quickfire 25-run 2nd-wicket partnership with Bethel Zinyama. Mea Meyer broke the partnership by catching Biza off her own bowling.
Zinyama held one end firm with a steady 13 off 23 balls (1 four) in an 18-run 3rd-wicket stand alongside Tadiwa Garutsa, before being caught by Iiyambo off Kaanjosa’s bowling. Garutsa then anchored the rest of the chase masterfully, top-scoring with an unbeaten 31 off 32 balls, featured by 3 boundaries. She added 35 runs for the 4th wicket with Nicolette Nyika, who chipped in with a useful 10 off 9 balls before Namutenya Thomas bowled her.
Namibia’s bowlers continued to battle hard, Iiyambo finished with 1/12 (3 overs), Meyer took 1/11 (2 overs), Kaanjosa claimed 1/8 (1 over), and Thomas grabbed 1/9 (1.5 overs). Monique Muller (0/13), Vorster Alexa (0/13), Veronika Tobias (0/13), and Jani-Mari Van Heerden (0/6) tried to apply pressure, but 12 extras aided the chasing team. After a brief mix-up saw Salem Museka run out for 1 off 2 balls, Naomi Mhlekwa scored 1 off 1 ball alongside Garutsa to seal a 5-wicket victory for Zimbabwe U19, reaching 87/5 in 12.5 overs.
Loves all things female cricket