YOUTHFUL Zimbabwe A Women won silver medal on their debut in the Kwibuka Women's T20I tournament in Rwanda after agonisingly going down by two runs in the final against Uganda.
After losing the toss, the Chiedza Dhururu captained side restricted the East Africans to 80/8 after 20 overs with youngsters, Christina Mutasa and Kudzai Chigora both taking two wickets for seven and nine runs respectively.
Uganda had Proscovia Alako and Rita Musamali top scoring with 24 and 15 runs respectively.
Zimbabwe A were on course to victory in the run chase with the senior players, Loryn Phiri (27) and skipper Dhururu (22) teaming up in what looked like a winning partnership.
However, Uganda having got the better of Zimbabwe A in the round robin stage dug deeper finding their answers in Janet Mbabazi who bagged five wickets for 10 and Consy Aweko who chipped in with two wickets.
Zimbabwe A fell just two runs shy of claiming gold in their debut outing at the Rwandan tournament finishing their innings on 78/8 in their alloted 20 overs.
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Running under the hashtag #wemeancricket, it was indeed the women's developmental pathway as Zimbabwe fielded 12 players aged between 15 and 19 in the tournament with only Phiri and Dhururu the senior and more experienced players.
The youngest players in the team are 15-year olds opening batter Beloved Biza and all-rounder Christina Mutasa.
Both have already played for the Zimbabwe senior team, after making their debuts in January against Ireland.
Kelis Ndhlovu (18) has the most senior team caps amongst the teenagers.
She has captained the only Zimbabwe women's team to play at a World Cup. She led the Zimbabwe Under 19s at the ICC Women's Under 19 World Cup in 2023.
Ndhlovu and 17-year old seam bowler Chigora were part of the history making, African Games gold winning Zimbabwe senior team.
Ndhlovu and 19-year old seam bowler Michelle Mavunga made their senior team debuts in the same tour, in Namibia in 2022.
Nine teenagers will be eligible to play for Zimbabwe in the 2025 ICC Women's Under 19 World Cup, if selected.
The Zimbabwe A Head coach Traver Garwe has same role in the Zimbabwe Under 19 Women.