All-round Delmi Tucker helps South Africa Emerging go 3-0 up against Zimbabwe

Opting to bat first, South Africa Emerging lost two quick wickets - including that of skipper Andrie Steyn (14), who had scored back to back hundreds, to be reeling at two for 23. Impressive left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda struck twice in her first 13 balls.

Anneke Bosch (41) then combined with Annerie Dercksen (19) to add 61 for the third wicket. However, the duo fell in the space of five runs as Lorraine Phiri spun a web with her off spin. She eventually finished with two for 23 in her ten overs.

Thanks to some tight bowling in the middle overs, Zimbabwe had South Africa Emerging on the mat at six for 118 before Tucker was joined in the middle by Masabata Klaas. The pair found gaps regularly and ran well between the wickets, rescuing the tourists from a precarious position.

While Tucker took 63 balls to get to her half century, Klaas got hers off 61 balls. The pair added 111 runs for the seventh wicket, before Sibanda dismissed Tucker to claim her fourth wicket. She finished with four for 57, Klaas stayed unbeaten on 59 and South Africa Emerging set Zimbabwe a target of 243.

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The hosts made a slow but steady start, seeing off the first ten overs without losing a wicket. However, Leah Jones first dismissed Chiedza Dhururu for ten off 41 balls, before Tucker dismissed the experienced Modester Mupachikwa for 35 to push Zimbabwe back to two for 54.

From there, the home team kept losing wickets from one end, even as captain Josephine Nkomo held one end up. She kept the scoreboard moving despite not having partners at the other end and brought up her fifty off 83 balls. At eight for 118 with over 11 overs to go, Zimbabwe were in danger of being bowled out.

However, Nkomo (63 not out) found an ally in Audrey Mazvishya, who scored six in 33 balls. They saw off the rest of the overs, adding an unconquered 45 for the ninth wicket.

Michaela Andrews picked up three for 35 in her spell with Jones and Tucker chipping in with two each.

Brief Scores: South Africa Emerging 242/7 in 50 overs (Delmi Tucker 65, Masabata Klaas 59*; Nomvelo Sibanda 4/57) beat Zimbabwe 163/8 in 50 overs (Josephine Nkomo 63*; Michaela Andrews 3/35) by 79 runs