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Sport Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior women’s cricket team left the country yesterday for South Africa where they are scheduled to play practice matches against Western Province women’s team in Cape Town.

Games will be at the Old Mutual Sports Club Ground and at the University of Cape Town cricket field.

The training games are part of Zimbabwe’s preparations for their Africa Region Qualifiers for the 2016 International Cricket Council Women’s Cricket World Cup set for December 13-16. The qualifiers will be staged in Johannesburg after being moved from Uganda due to the Ebola outbreak in that part of the continent.

Speaking before their departure, national team coach Trevor Phiri was confident that his girls would do well in South Africa.

“Our preparations have gone well and what even gives us an edge is that most of these girls have been playing cricket regularly at their respective clubs. We identified the team during a national competition that we held in August and the squad is a mixture of experience and youth eager to make a mark,” Phiri said.

Zimbabwe’s delegation for South Africa is made up of 14 players and three officials – coach Phiri, Caroline Nyamande (manager) and physiotherapist Chido Pfumojena.

“From the composition of the squad, I believe we’ve what it takes to win the tournament. Every member of the squad will get a chance to play because it doesn’t make sense to take them along and deny them an opportunity to get exposed to competitive cricket.”

Matabeleland Tuskers’ all-rounder Lorraine Tshuma who was part of the Zimbabwe senior women’s national team that participated at last year’s ICC Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers in Ireland made it for the trip alongside clubmates Ellen Tshuma and Nomvelo Sibanda who are expected to lead Zimbabwe’s batting.

The national team returns from their South Africa sojourn on Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe women’s squad: Chipo Mugeri (captain), Precious Marange (vice-captain), Christabel Chatonzwa, Tasmeen Granger, Audrey Mazvishaya, Esther Mbofana, Pellagia Mujaji, Modester Mupachikwa, Nomatter Mutasa, Ashley Ndiraya, Josphine Nkomo, Nomvelo Sibanda, Ellen Tshuma, Loreen Tshuma

Officials: Trevor Phiri (coach), Caroline Nyamande (manager), Chido Pfumojena (physiotherapist).