The last Saturday (23rd April) was very hard for Namibia Women but they ended the day with an extraordinary comeback that also established them into one of the top Women’s T20I record books. The Capricorn Eagles managed to defend the second-lowest total in the WT20I history, which hadn’t any shortened over.
Namibia Women played two WT20Is on that same day. At first, Zimbabwe Women thrashed them by seven wickets after bundling them out for just 41 runs. It was their lowest WT20I total, while their previous record in that book was 60 all out against the same team at Walvis Bay on 10th January 2019.
Namibia Women – 68 all out vs Uganda Women - 40 all out
The Capricorn Eagles played their second game of the day against Uganda Women. Once again, Namibia Women batters failed to impress as they were bowled out for just 68 runs in 15.2 overs. In that innings, only the opener Sune Wittmann (10), no.8 batter Dietlind Foerster (19*) and Sylvia Shihepo (14) managed to reach the double-digit scores.
However, Uganda Women failed to chase the 69 runs target in 20 overs as they were bundled out for just 40 runs in 12.1 overs. Namibia Women won that game by a handsome margin of 28 runs.
While Namibia Women managed to successfully defend their 68 runs total in the full 20-over game, it was the second-lowest successfully defended total in an uninterrupted WT20I match. Bangladesh Women are holding the record of the lowest successfully defended total in this same list with 62 runs against Sri Lanka Women at Guangzhou on 28th October 2012.
Lowest defended totals in WT20I history (only matches with no reduced over)
Phiona Kulume – recorded joint 8th best WT20I bowling figures
During that impressive second innings of the WT20I match, Sune Wittmann bagged five wickets (4-0-10-5) and Irene van Zyl collected three wickets (3.1-0-15-3) to end their opposition’s hope. Only the number three batter Janet Mbabazi (12) managed to reach the double-digit score for Uganda Women in that horrific chasing.
However, the 17-year-old Uganda Women bowler Phiona Kulume won the Player of the Match award in that game as she had the bowling figures of 4-0-11-6. Those bowling figures were the joint eighth best bowling figures in WT20I history.
Best bowling figures in WT20I history
Capricorn Women's Tri-Series 2022 – latest status
Namibia Women are currently hosting the Capricorn Women's Tri-Series 2022, where they are experiencing the WT20I tri-series along with Zimbabwe Women and Uganda Women. Both Zimbabwe Women and Namibia Women have already earned six points each after playing four matches as Zimbabwe Women are leading the points table with a better net run rate.
Though they still have to play one more round before the final of this tournament on 26th April 2022, both Zimbabwe Women and Namibia Women have secured their spots for the final of this tournament.