Fungai Muderere
AFTER producing a top-drawer performance for Lady Chevrons in their recently ended tour in Thailand, Lady Chevrons all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu has been nominated for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women Player of the Month award for April.
The young Zimbabwe gun Ndhlovu (17) is in the running for the award together with two associate batters Naruemol Chaiwai of Thailand and Kavisha Egodage of United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Ndhlovu who recently debuted for the local senior team before her breakout inaugural U19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign has proved to have gone from strength to strength as an international cricketer as travelling to Thailand for the One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20I series, saw her make a strong first-up appearance in the longer format, claiming 5/22 (9) at Terdthai Cricket Club in Bangkok.
Ndhlovu almost turned the tide for Zimbabwe in the second ODI, taking three wickets in quick succession as Thailand stumbled from 100 percent to 104/3.
Ndhlovu finished with 3/17 as Thailand fell to 217 all out, though the tourists were unable to reach the target in reply.
Ndhlovu claimed 2/19 (8) in the final ODI, with her total of nine scalps the most across both teams for the series.
The starlet took the form into the T20Is, taking a further four wickets at an economy of 7.60, with wickets in all three outings. Her 2/28 (4) helped Zimbabwe to their one win on the tour, with efforts of 1/19 and 1/29 strengthening her case for this month’s accolade.
Meanwhile, Lady Chevrons skipper Mary Anne Musonda had a strong debut for her Scorchers side in the opening match of the Cricket Ireland Super 20 on Monday. She was instrumental in their five-wicket victory over Dragons.
Musonda carried the bat, scoring an unbeaten 39 getting to the modest target of 83 with nine balls to spare.
The 31-year-old showed composure as wickets kept falling on the other end Earlier, she took three catches as Dragons amassed 82 for the loss of nine wickets from their 20 overs.
This is Musonda’s first season in the Ireland domestic scene. She is one of six overseas players picked for this season’s roster.
In a video interview with Cricket Ireland, Musonda reckoned: “There is a lot to improve with my strike rotation. Probably, I’m still yet to get used to the conditions and the pace of the bowlers. I’m glad that I managed to stick around and take the team over.”
