Tuskers Women – 78-6 in 20 overs (Chiedza Dhururu 29, Ellen Tshuma 14, Tasmeen Granger 12*; Precious Marange 2/6, Leanne Chibunhe 1/5, Mitchel Mavhunga 1/6)
Eagles Women – 81-2 in 14.1 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 47*, Mitchell Mutongawafa 18, Christabel Chatonzwa 7*; Nomvelo Sibanda 2/13)
Eagles Women won by eight wickets
Eagles Women have been crowned the winners of the inaugural Women’s T20 Cup after beating Tuskers Women by eight wickets at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on Saturday.
Eagles carried the favourites tag with aplomb as they chased down their target of 79 with almost six overs to spare.
Captain Modester Mupachikwa led from the front, blasting an unbeaten 47 off 42 balls which had eight fours.
This was after Tuskers captain Nomvelo Sibanda had taken the wicket of Kellies Ndlovu, trapped leg before for four.
At that point the Eagles score was on five.
A second-wicket partnership then followed between Mupachikwa and Mitchell Mutongawafa, yielding 64 runs.
The former was aggressive while the latter played a more conservative role.
Sibanda claimed Mutongawafa for 18 but at that time, only 10 runs were needed.
Mupachikwa, together with Christabel Chatonzwa, needed only eight more balls to wrap up the match after reaching 81 for the loss of two wickets in 14.1 overs.
Earlier, Eagles had done well to restrict Tuskers, won the toss and chose to bat, to a modest total.
Tuskers were racing away in the power play period, going at over six an over.
The first wicket fell in the seventh over with the score on 37 and it still looked like a big score was in the offing as the experience of Sibanda and Tasmeen Granger was still to follow.
Tight bowling however meant that all but one of the Eagles bowlers conceded five or under an over.
Precious Marange was particularly impressive, giving away only six runs in her allotted four overs.
Sibanda could only score one before she was run out while Granger’s unbeaten 12 came off 26 balls.
Chiedza Dhururu top-scored with 29, followed by Ellen Tshuma who made 14.
After Tuskers made 78 for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs, they knew their work was cut out if they were to defend the total.
In the end it was not to be as the Harare-based Eagles, who had impressed throughout the season in this format, clinched the silverware.
Mupachikwa was voted the player of the match and also bagged the batter of the tournament accolade.
Marange took the bowler of the tournament award home.
Mary-Anne Musonda of Rhinos was named the Women’s T20 Cup player of the tournament.
