Zimbabwe Eliminated From Women's Cricket World Cup

The team finished without even a single point after heavily losing their final match to neighbours South Africa Sunday. South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl but Zimbabwe could only manage a paltry
103 runs with only four players Ashley Ndirara with 22 runs, Nonhlanhla Nyathi with 21, Pelagia Mujaji on 20, and Sinikiwe Mpofu on 13 managing to reach double figures.

Even the usually reliable team captain, Sharne Meyers could only manage such a small contribution as three runs as Zimbabwe fell short against the South Africans who also won the title at the last World
Cup qualifiers in 2008.

Shandre Fritz led the South African onslaught with 69 as South Africa reached 106 without losing a wicket to seal Zimbabwe’s elimination from the 10 team competition.

The Zimbabweans had before that lost their opening game to the Netherlands by six wickets before falling to Sri Lanka by seven wickets. Although they narrowly lost to the United States of America
by just one run, the defeat by South Africa was the final straw in their way out of the 10 team competition.

The win also sees South Africa qualify not only for the semi finals but also for the 2013 World Cup. The other team that has booked a ticket to the World Cup are the West Indies who have won the other
group that also features hosts Bangladesh, Pakistan, Japan, and Ireland.

The Zimbabweans performance this time around is in contrast to their last performance in 2008 when they managed two wins against Scotland and Bermuda before falling by the wayside.
Their performance also illustrates the low standards of women’s cricket in Africa as Zimbabwe is the second best team on the continent just behind South Africa.

The Zimbabweans who have never qualified for the World Cup still have a lot to do if they are  to be recognized as a force to be reckowned with on the international front.

Their development, however, will only come if they compete regularly on the international scene as their opponents in Africa are way behind to the extent that they cannot give meaningful opposition.

South Africa, will once again fly the African flag at the World Cup and have joined defending champions England, India, New Zealand, and Australia who have already qualified for the 2013 finals by virtue of
having finished in the top four at the last finals held in Sydney Australia.