Lady Chevrons clinch historic gold in dramatic sup...

Lady Chevrons clinch historic gold in dramatic super Over finish at African Games!

Philemon Jambaya

The 13th African Games witnessed a moment etched in history as Zimbabwe’s Lady Chevrons emerged as the inaugural champions of the Women’s T20 Cricket tournament. Their triumph came after a heart-stopping Super Over victory against a valiant South African team at the Achimota Senior Secondary School in Accra, Ghana.

Zimbabwe, led by Captain Mary-Anne Musonda, took the first initiative, putting up a commendable 112 runs on the board in their allotted 20 overs. Chasing a target of 113 for the coveted gold, South Africa faced early setbacks.

Their top order crumbled under the pressure of the final, with Josephine Nkomo (1/16), Nomvelo Ndhlovu (2/21), and a sharp run-out dismissing the crucial opening batters (Simone Lourens, Annerie Dercksen, and Faye Tunnicliffe) within the powerplay.

South Africa’s skipper, Sune Luus, echoed the team's determination, stating: “We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we had the belief to chase this down.”

However, the challenge intensified as wickets continued to fall. Laura Wolvaardt, a pillar of the South African batting line-up, expressed her disappointment: “Losing early wickets put us under immense pressure, but we never gave up.”

Despite losing wickets, South Africa’s middle-order duo of Nadine de Klerk (15) and Mignon du Preez (12) steered the chase forward.

“We had to dig deep and build a partnership,” remarked de Klerk. Marizanne Kapp, known for her all-around prowess, added: “The run-rate climbed quickly, but we had faith in our ability to chase it down.”

As the tension mounted, South Africa inched closer to the target, requiring just 13 runs off the final 12 deliveries. South Africa’s Lara Goodall highlighted the nerve-wracking finale: “The last few overs were a nail-biting experience. We knew we were in with a chance.”

However, a dramatic run-out on the last ball of the regular innings forced the match into a nerve-wracking Super Over.

In the high-pressure Super Over, Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, led by the experienced Ndhlovu, restricted South Africa to a meagre two runs while taking two crucial wickets. Zimbabwe then chased down the target with remarkable composure. Ndhlovu, the hero of the match, fittingly sealed the historic victory with a magnificent four off the second ball, leaving the South Africans with silver.

Victorious Captain Musonda expressed her immense pride: “This is a phenomenal achievement for our team. We have been working incredibly hard, and to win the first-ever gold medal in this tournament is a dream come true.”

The jubilant celebrations resonated the emotions of a nation witnessing the rise of their Lady Chevrons as champions.