THE Zimbabwe women’s national cricket team finally got it right when they beat Thailand women’s side by 36 runs in an ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier match played at Mercantile Cricket Association Ground, Colombo in Sri Lanka on Friday.

This was the first win for Zimbabwe after having lost their opening match to Ireland by 119 runs. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 118 in the chase. With a top score of 35 from Ashley Ndiraya. 

Thailand send in Zimbabwe to bat first and restricted Zimbabwe to 191 runs after 50 overs picking up eight wickets in the process. Zimbabwe opened the batting through Modester Mupachikwa and Loren Tshuma. Mupachikwa was dismissed for a duck but the coming in of Mary-Anee Musonda brought some stability for Zimbabwe with the batswomen getting 18 and 35 runs respectively.

Ashley Ndiraya who came in at third, contributed 28 runs. 

Other meaningful contributors to Zimbabwe’s innings were Sharne Mayers and Precious Marange who contributed 29 and 34 runs respectively while Josephine Nkomo got 27 with Tasmeen Granger adding 12 leaving Thailand to chase 191 runs.

Nomatter Mutasa had a good bowling spell as she picked up four vital wickets for Zimbabwe as they bowled out the Thais for 155 runs.

Zimbabwe struck early through Mutasa in the first over dismissing opener Nattakan Chantam for ten runs followed by the dismissal of Sirintra Saengsakaorat for a duck at the end of the second over by leaving Thailand at struggling at 16 for two.

Wickets continued to tumble for Thailand as the Zimbabwe bowlers ripped apart the Thai batting order with Granger striking twice while Musonda, Tshuma and Marange got one wicket each to secure a 36-run victory.