as women's team prepares for qualifiers in Bangladesh
The Zimbabwe national women’s team captain, Sharne Mayers lauded her team’s performance in their preparatory tour of Botswana which was one of many preparatory events leading up to the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. The ladies played against the Botswana national women’s cricket team for two Twenty20 and two One-day Internationals in Gaborone from the 14th to the 17th of October 2011. Zimbabwe finished the series unbeaten in both formats and clinched the winner’s trophy in the process. The tour was the 19 year old right hander’s first assignment as the national team captain.
“I am really proud of the girls; we played a lot of good cricket in Gaborone. We were a well coordinated unit and that is something we should take to with us to Bangladesh in November”
“Being captain is not the toughest thing for me especially when you are as fortunate as me to have players I have played with from under-19 level and the national team. We have a great spirit and my job is made easier that way, so I know I have the right backing from the rest of team and that in itself is very encouraging,” said Mayers.
Mayers has a much tougher assignment of leading her team in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2011 (WWCQ) to be held in Bangladesh from the 14th to the 25th of November 2011. The team includes the hosts and teams from Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, USA and Zimbabwe to battle it out for the four remaining spots at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2013 which will be hosted by India.
“We really have to apply ourselves when we play in Bangladesh. We are preparing ourselves for some very intense competition. The ladies are fitter now and working really hard and the whole team realizes how much more is more work needs to be done before we leave for Dhaka”
“The conditions are totally different from what we are used to in Zimbabwe and all the other teams will be just as hungry to qualify as we are,” said Mayers.
Mayers leads from the front and is one of the team’s top run scorers. She scored 81 runs from the one ODI innings she played in Gaborone and had a bowling average of 15.5 runs in the same tournament. Mayers is the complete all-rounder also able to keep wicket as well.
Zimbabwe is in Group A along with neighbouring South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, and the USA.
The Squad: Sharne Meyers (captain), Julia Chibhabha, Precious Marange, Ashley Ndiraya, Sharyce Saili, Modester Mupachikwa, Pellagia Mujaji, Nonhlanhla Nyathi, Sinikiwe Mpofu, Thandolwenkosi Mlilo, Christabel Chatonzwa, Sarah Dambanevana, Audrey Mazvishaya, Loreen Tshuma
