Zimbabwe Women wrote their names into the history books by becoming the inaugural African Womens T20 Champions when they defeated SA Emerging Women in a dramatic Super-Over of the inaugural T20 tournament trophy match, at the 13th African Games 2024, played at the Achimota Senior Secondary School A Field, Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, 13 March, 2024.
With everything to play for, captain Nodumiso Shangase won the toss the chose to field in this historic final. The Zimbabwe opening pair of Modester Mupachikwa and Sharne Mayers got off to a steady start putting on 18 runs before Mayers (10) got sent back to the dressing room. Kelis Ndhlovu (28) and Mupachika put on a 49-run partnership before Ndhlovu was trapped LBW by the bowling of Shangase.
Mary-Anne Musonda and Mupachikwa added a valuable 16-run partnership before Mupachikwa (31) lost her wicket to the bowling of Ghandi Jafta. With the Zimbabweans on 83/3 after 15 overs, Team South Africa went after them with everything they had. Mary-Anne Musonda (8) lost her wicket in the first ball of the 16th over, and this gave South Africa the much-needed boost and confidence required to hit the deck straight and hard.
Zimbabwe reached a total of 112/5 in their 20-overs, with Pellagia Mujaji (20*) and Josephine Nkomo (4*) remaining unbeaten as their steered their team to a defendable total in what was set to be an epic showdown to the end.
Team South Africa started off on rocky road losing 3 wickets within the power-play. With the total on 21/3, Nondumiso Shangase and Leah Jones put on a hard-fought 14-run partnership before Shangase (7) was sent scampering back to the dugout off the bowling of Loreen Tshuma. Jones (15) followed shortly after, when she was bowled by Francisca Chipare.
Karabo Meso and Miane Smit put on a spirited 34-run partnership before Meso (12) was caught by Tshuma off the bowling of Precious Marange. Kayla Reyneke (9) was stumped Mupachikwa in the 18th over, and the stage was set for a nailbiter of a finish, Team South Africa still needing 13 runs off 12 balls.
Miane Smith was joined by Gandhi Jafta at the crease, with a fire deep in their soul they played with their hearts on the sleeves. Playing ball by ball, run-for-run to tie the match with South Africa on 112/8 and Jafta losing her wicket on the final ball, to take them into a Super Over.
A more intense script could not have been written ahead of time, with both teams giving it their all in an inaugural final that goes all the way to the Super Over.
Tragically the end was of the worst kind for South Africa, which first lost the wicket of opener Annerie Dercksen clean-bowled off Francisca Chipare’s opening delivery, and then Miane Smit was run out for 2 by Josephine Nkomo, ending SA’s Super Over innings on 2/2 after 3 balls, with Faye Tunnicliffe stranded on the non-strikers’ end, unable play any part.
Their turn to bat, Kelis Ndhlovu sent Jane Winster’s second delivery for four through mid-wicket, for Zimbabwe to win the Super-Over by 2 wickets and claim the first-ever title of African Women’s T20 Champions.
South Africa Emerging Women
Faye Tunnicliffe
Simone Lourens
Annerie Dercksen
Nondumiso Shangase (c)
Leah Jones
Miane Smit
Karabo Meso (wk)
Kayla Reyneke
Gandhi Jafta
Seshnie Naidu
Jane Winster
Zimbabwe Women
Modester Mupachikwa (wk)
Sharne Mayers
Kelis Ndhlovu
Mary-Anne Musonda (c)
Pellagia Mujaji
Chiedza Dhururu
Josephine Nkomo
Loreen Tshuma
Precious Marange
Francisca Chipare
Nomvelo Sibanda
Photo Caption: Zimbabwe Women’s wrote their names into the history books by becoming the inaugural African Women’s T20 Champions when they defeated SA Emerging Women in a dramatic Super-Over in the final in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, 13 March, 2024. Photo: Proteas Women on X
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