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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter

The Zimbabwe ladies cricket national team took an unassailable lead in their preparatory T20 series against South Africa Emerging after they won the fourth match at Groenkloof in Pretoria.

The Lady Chevrons beat South Africa by 20 runs in the fourth T20 to take a 3-1 lead going into the final match of the series. South Africa finished on 138-7 after being set a target of 158.

Zimbabwe, who won the toss and elected to bat first, finished on 157-7 in their 20 overs. Captain Mary-Anne Musonda top scored for the Lady Chevrons with 48 unbeaten runs.

The Lady Chevrons’ 16-year-old all-rounder, Kelis Ndhlovu was the team’s second highest run getter, scoring 41 runs whilst last match’s hero Sharne Mayers fell 17 runs of a second consecutive half century, scoring 33. Spinner Miane Smit took three wickets while conceding just 23 runs for the hosts.

The 16-year-old Kelis Ndhlovu also starred with the ball for Zimbabwe, taking 2-24 during her spell in the team’s defense. Star all-rounder Josephine Nkomo also chipped in with two wickets, conceding just 27 runs to guide their team to a series win.

Smit top scored for the hosts with 45 runs as they came short in their chase.

Zimbabwe is using the series as preparation for their T20 World Cup Qualifiers which will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), starting on 18 September. The lady Chevrons will travel to UAE for a quadrangular series against Thailand, United States of America and the hosts which will be their final preparations.