ZIMBABWE’S slim hopes of making it to the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup will go up in smoke if the Lady Chevrons fail to win their final group match at Global Qualifier against European side Netherlands in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates today.
After investing immensely in these qualifiers going as far as India, the Lady Chevrons' dream came under threat following an uncharacteristic six-wicket defeat to minnows Vanuatu in the opening match.
Another defeat to Ireland where they lost by 56 runs on Monday left the Zimbabwean team needing nothing short of a miracle to be one of the two teams from their group to qualify for the semis.
Zimbabwe need a big win against the Dutch and hope the other matches go in their favour to go into the last four where they will have the competition’s strongest team Sri Lanka waiting.
The two finalists will automatically book a ticket to the global event set for Bangladesh later this year.
Zimbabwe currently sits in fourth place with two points, the same number as Netherlands in second place, UAE in third and Vanuatu in fifth based on the net run rate.
Head coach Walter Chawaguta is fully aware that the odds are stacked against his team, but as a Christian, he is also hoping that one team could bottle it.
“It's always good to have hope but unfortunately we didn't quite come off on Monday. [We had a] bad start in particular with the ball but I think it now depends on first and foremost, we have to win the next one. We have to beat the Netherlands and then obviously there's going to be quite a few ways things can go,”’ Chawaguta said.
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“So, we just hope that things go our way but we have to make sure first and foremost that we beat Netherlands at least it keeps us in the hunt and then we wait and see if some of the games can sort of fall in our way. Obviously the net run rate can come into play as well. We are not out of the woods yet but we have made things difficult for ourselves."
Chawaguta praised skipper Mary-Anne Musonda but bemoaned the lack of support from her teammates.
“Look, we had long meetings on Sunday, we discussed what needed to be done. Unfortunately one of the things we spoke about is we had to start well whether it's with the ball or it's with the bat. Monday we were poor with the ball and our best bowler [Josephine Nkomo] just couldn't find her length and that just got them going.
“I know [Amy] Hunter [Ireland wicketkeeper and top scorer against Zimbabwe] has been struggling for form and we sort of gave her a head start. Then obviously with the bat I don't think their bowling was that flash again. We didn't take full advantage of the conditions which I thought were very good for batting and 29 in the power play in those conditions and the type of bowling I thought that we missed on opportunities to get ourselves again on track.
“And again after that needing 10s, 11s at one time it was always going to be difficult, we needed someone to come up. I thought the captain batted well but unfortunately she just didn't have any company,” he said.
Zimbabwe crashed out of the last T20 Global Qualifier played in Abu Dhabi after going down to Ireland Women by four runs in the semifinals.
This time around a defeat against Netherlands today will see them return home at the group stages.
