Musonda, Nkomo efforts help Zimbabwe beat Thailand in 1st one dayer

the first one dayer at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on Wednesday (August 18).

Captain Musonda opted to chase and their batters delivered. Chasing 200 for a win, the Zimbabwe openers Ashley Ndiraya and Christabel Chatonzwa added 59 for the first wicket. Sornnarin Tippoch, who was the fourth bowler introduced by Thailand in the first game, broke the stand by dismissing Chatonzwa for 22. Ndiraya followed her opening partner in fairly quick succession, missing a well-deserved half century by ten.

When Ratanaporn Padunglerd got rid of Modester Mupachikwa (20), the tourists’ belief would have risen. But Musonda and Nkomo quelled any such doubts for the hosts. The pair added an unconquered 105 for the fourth wicket.

Nkomo brought her half century in the penultimate over of the chase, while the skipper Musonda finished the game with a four that brought her fifty. Padunglerd finished two for 35 off her nine overs for Thailand.

Earlier, Thailand’s top-order collapse left the middle order to resurrect the innings. Wongpaka Liengpresert was out for a duck on the seventh ball of the match, cleaned up by Nkomo. Nattaya Boochatham then fell for six while number three Nattakan Chantham also fell for six, leaving Thailand reeling at three for 35 in the 12^th over.

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Wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai and skipper Naruemol Chaiwai then added 61 for the fourth wicket before the former fell for 37. But Chaiwai then was joined by Chanida Sutthiruang, who arrested further fall of wickets. Chaiwai and Sutthiruang both struck unbeaten half centuries as Thailand finished on 199 for four.

Nkomo returned two for 37 for Zimbabwe. The second one dayer will be played on Friday.

Brief Scores: Thailand 199/4 in 50 overs (Naruemol Chaiwai 67*, Chanida Sutthiruang 55*; Josephine Nkomo 2/37) lost to Zimbabwe 200/3 in 45 overs (Josephine Nkomo 57*, Mary-Anne Musonda 50*; Ratanaporn Padunglerd 2/35) by seven wickets