Mozambique Women delivered a statement performance in the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026, producing a dominant display with both bat and ball to overwhelm Zambia Women in a one-sided contest. The match began with Mozambique looking to settle in, but they faced an early setback when Olga Mondlane was dismissed for 5 off 8 balls at 17/1 in just 2.3 overs. Mercy Nguni provided the breakthrough, briefly giving Zambia Women a reason to stay hopeful in the powerplay.
However, what followed was a defining phase of the match, as Palmira Cuinica and Amelia Mundundo took complete control of the innings with a brilliant second-wicket partnership. The duo stitched together a massive 132-run stand, turning the game heavily in Mozambique’s favor. Cuinica led from the front with a magnificent unbeaten 80 off 70 balls, striking 8 boundaries and anchoring the innings with authority. Mundundo complemented her perfectly, scoring a fluent 45 off 41 deliveries, including 4 boundaries, maintaining a steady scoring rate and rotating strike effectively.
After Mundundo’s dismissal at 149/2 in 16.3 overs, Mozambique continued to build on the momentum. Cristina Magaia remained unbeaten on 4 off 9 balls, while Cuinica carried her bat through the innings, ensuring her side finished strongly. The extras column also played a crucial role, contributing a significant 40 runs (including 26 wides), which further boosted Mozambique’s total to 174/2 in 20 overs at a healthy run rate of 8.70.
Zambia Women’s bowling attack struggled to contain the flow of runs after the initial breakthrough. Mercy Nguni (3-0-19-1) was the most effective among the bowlers, picking up the early wicket. Mwansa Chabula also managed to claim a wicket, finishing with figures of 3-0-29-1. Nancy Chabula (4-0-27-0) and Mwake Kachingo (3-0-27-0) bowled with discipline at times but failed to break the crucial partnership. Rithika Sriram (4-0-34-0) and Esther Mulenga (2-0-21-0) were expensive, while Rosemary Chanda conceded 11 runs in her solitary over.
Chasing a daunting target of 175, Zambia Women’s innings never gained any momentum as Mozambique’s bowlers dominated from the outset. Filo Chenda was dismissed for 1 in the opening over, followed by Rosemary Chanda (5 off 8), leaving the team at 8/2 inside 3.2 overs. Nancy Chabula tried to stabilize the innings but struggled for fluency, scoring 4 off 25 balls before being dismissed, as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
The middle order collapse defined Zambia’s innings, with Mwake Kachingo (0 off 13), Mwansa Chabula (run out for 0), and Vivian Mwansa (0 off 19) all failing to contribute. Esther Mulenga and Rithika Sriram were also dismissed for ducks, highlighting the relentless pressure applied by Mozambique’s bowling unit. The very little resistance came in patches, but partnerships never developed, as Zambia slumped to 21/7 and eventually 30/9 in their 20 overs.
Mozambique’s bowlers were clinical and ruthless. Regina Mazumba was the standout performer, claiming an impressive 4 wickets for just 6 runs in her 4 overs, dismantling the middle and lower order. Palmira Cuinica capped off her all-round brilliance with 2 wickets for 4 runs in 3 overs, while Angelica Salomao (4-1-8-1) and Rosalia Haiong (3-1-4-1) provided excellent support, maintaining tight lines and building pressure. Laura Chipanga (3-2-5-0) and Olga Mondlane (3-1-2-0) were equally economical, ensuring Zambia never found any rhythm.
In the end, Mozambique Women secured a massive 144-run victory, underpinned by a record partnership, disciplined bowling, and a complete team performance. Palmira Cuinica’s outstanding all-round display rightfully earned her the Player of the Match award, making this one of the most dominant performances.
Loves all things female cricket