Rain had the final say in the fifth T20 between Zimbabwe and SA Emerging at the Takashinga Sports Club, with the match raining out at the start of the second innings following a downpour in Harare on Sunday.
The six-match series is level (2-2) with one match to go.
After calling correctly at the toss, the Emerging side chose to bat first and the decision looked to pay off as openers Andrie Steyn and Annerie Dercksen (18) put on a first-wicket stand worth 42 runs to lay an ideal platform for the visitors before Dercsken mistimed a drive back to spinner Precious Marange (1-23).
With South Africa going at more than seven runs an over at the end of the powerplay, Zimbabwe counterpunched with two more wickets as Steyn eventually fell on 30 off 23 deliveries, soon followed by Lara Goodall (4), to leave the Emerging side 56/3 in the ninth over.
Allrounders Nondumiso Shangase (19) and Eliz-Mari Marx (8) then helped the tourists regain momentum at the crease to take South Africa to 72/3 after 12 overs prior to Zimbabwe inflicting two defining run-outs to remove both batters and slow down their opponent's run-scoring efforts.
Allrounder Jenna Evans (16) added vital runs on the scoreboard as South Africa surpassed the 100-run mark before ending their allotted 20 overs on 107/8, with Zimbabwe’s Ndhlovu picking up two wickets in two balls in the 19th over to finish as her team’s leading bowler alongside Lindokuhle Mabhero (1-17) and Loreen Tshuma (1-17).
In Zimbabwe's chase, top-order batters Mary-Anne Musonda (10*) and Modester Mupachikwa (4*) carried their side to 14/0 after 1.3 overs, still needing 94 runs to win, before inclement weather led to a stoppage to the contest in the capital city and the match ended as a no result.
With the six-match series poised at 2-2, Zimbabwe and the SA Emerging side will face off in a decider on Monday, 27 November at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare from 12pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
SA Emerging Women Squad v Zimbabwe (2023/24):
Nobulumko Baneti (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Jenna Evans (DP World Lions), Lara Goodall (Western Province), Leah Jones (Western Province), Tebogo Macheke (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Refilwe Moncho (DP World Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Asakhe Nyovane (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), *Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Andrie Steyn (Western Province), Jané Winster (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers)
Results: SA Emerging Women v Zimbabwe
Sunday, 19 November
SA Emerging beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets
Zimbabwe: 96/7 after 20 overs; J. Nkomo 34* (50), N. Gwanzura 26 (22); E. Marx 2/9, N. Shangase 1/6
SA Emerging: 99/2 after 11.2 overs; A. Dercksen 58* (30), A. Steyn 16 (15); K. Ndhlovu 2/12, A. Mazvishaya 0/7
Monday, 20 November
Zimbabwe beat SA Emerging by six wickets (DLS)
SA Emerging: 69/4 after 8 overs; N. Shangase 22* (12), A. Steyn 17 (13); K. Ndhlovu 3/19, L. Mabhero 0/8
Zimbabwe: 70/4 after 7.4 overs; C. Mugeri-Tiripano 42* (18), M. Musonda 14 (13); S. Naidu 2/22, E. Marx 1/9
Wednesday, 22 November
Zimbabwe beat SA Emerging by three wickets
SA Emerging: 105/9 after 20 overs; A. Dercksen 27 (28), L. Goodall 25 (32); L. Tshuma 4/21, J. Nkomo 2/13
Zimbabwe: 106/7 after 18.3 overs; A. Ndiraya 34 (30), L. Tshuma 24* (18); L. Jones 3/16, T. Sekhukhune 2/19
Friday, 24 November
SA Emerging beat Zimbabwe by 12 runs
SA Emerging: 127/7 after 20 overs; A. Steyn (32), N. Shangase 26 (35); K. Ndhlovu 3/19, N. Sibanda 1/13
Zimbabwe: 115h7 after 20 overs; M. Musonda 53 (51), N. Gwanzura 15 (9); E. Marx 2/18, L. Jones (2/12)
Sunday, 26 November
No Result
SA Emerging: 107/8 after 20 overs; A. Steyn 30 (23), N. Shangase 19 (18); K. Ndhlovu 2/24, L. Tshuma 1/17
Zimbabwe: 14/0 after 1,3 overs; M. Musonda 10* (6), M. Mupachikwa 4* (3); E. Marx 0/10
Fixtures: SA Emerging Women v Zimbabwe
Monday, 27 November at 12pm CAT - 6th T20 - Zimbabwe v SA Emerging Women (Takashinga Sports Club, Harare)