ZIMBABWE Women stormed into the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier with a crushing 10-wicket win over Nigeria Women at the HP Oval in Windhoek on Wednesday, thanks to a brilliant spell from Josephine Nkomo.
Nigeria, who chose to bat first, never recovered from a disastrous start. Kehinde Amusa fell for a duck in the second over, edging Nkomo behind to Modester Mupachikwa. Soon after, Nomvelo Sibanda bowled Lucky Piet for another duck, and Nkomo struck again to bowl Salome Sunday for just one. By the end of the fourth over, Nigeria were reeling at 3 for 3.
Igbinedion Victory (10) and Eguakun Omosigho tried to steady the innings with a 20-run partnership, but Francisca Chipare broke the stand with Sibanda taking the catch. Some fight came from Omosigho and Blessing Etim, who added 30 for the fifth wicket. Etim was the top scorer with a brisk 25 off 22 balls, hitting five fours, before Nyasha Gwanzura removed her in the 14th over.
Omosigho (11) soon fell lbw to Loreen Tshuma, and although Oseyande Omonkhobio briefly lifted spirits with 16, including the only six of the match, Nkomo returned to wipe out the tail. She bowled Peculiar Agboya (12) and Christabel Chukwuonye (0) with consecutive balls before dismissing Omonkhobio to finish with astonishing figures of 5 for 6 in four overs. Nigeria were bowled out for 90 in the final over.
Zimbabwe’s chase was a formality. Openers Kelis Ndhlovu (44 not out) and Modester Mupachikwa (36 not out) made sure there were no slip-ups, striking boundaries at will. They reached 93 without loss in just 14.2 overs, sealing a dominant 10-wicket win.
The result maintained Zimbabwe’s unbeaten run in Group A after earlier victories over Namibia and Sierra Leone, setting up a semi-final clash against Uganda on Thursday.
