Kelis Ndlovu Becomes Youngest Left-Handed Batter To Score A T20 International Fifty

Zimbabwe Women youngster Kelis Ndlovu created history last Sunday (24th April) as she became the youngest left-handed batter to score 50 or more runs in a T20 international innings, considering both men’s and women’s formats.

Zimbabwe Women faced the hosts Namibia Women during that eighth game of the Capricorn Women's Tri-Series 2022 at Windhoek. After the home team chose to field first, Zimbabwe Women scored 156/0 in 20 overs. It was the fourth time when a team batted the entire 20 overs of a Women’s T20I match without losing any wicket. Among those four totals, the latest 156/0 was the lowest total.

Kelis Ndlovu recorded her first WT20I half-century at the age of 16 years and 159 days

In that 156 runs unbeaten opening partnership, the 16-year-old left-handed batter Kelis Ndlovu scored 58 not out off 63 balls with the help of three boundaries and only over-boundary. Meanwhile, her right-handed opening partner Sharne Mayers remained unbeaten for 68 runs off 57 balls (9 fours and only six).

Kushal Malla was the previous record holder who created that record exactly a year ago

Ndlovu was only 16 years and 159 days old during her maiden WT20I half-century. Previously, the record holder of the youngest left-handed batter to score 50 or more runs in a T20 international innings was a male. Nepal cricketer Kushal Malla was holding that record when he scored 50 not out at the age of 17 years and 50 days against the Netherlands at Kirtipur. Interestingly, Ndlovu broke that record on the exact first anniversary as Kushal recorded on 24th April 2021.

In the meantime, UAE women cricketer Theertha Satish was previously holding the record of the youngest left-handed batter to score 50 or more runs in a WT20I match. She scored 64 not out at the age of 17 years and 223 days against Bhutan Women at ICCA 2 Dubai on 25th November 2021.

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Youngest left-handed batter to score 50 or more runs in a T20 international innings (Men’s + Women’s)

Kelis Ndlovu is now the 5th youngest to score 50 or more runs in a WT20I innings

On the other hand, Kelis Ndlovu became the fifth youngest cricketer to score 50 or more runs in a WT20I innings.

Zimbabwe Women won by 67 runs

Coming back to the game, Namibia Women only managed to score 89/6 in 20 overs as Zimbabwe Women won that game by 67 runs. Only the openers Sune Wittmann (23) and Jurriene Diergaardt (21) managed to reach the 20-run marks in that chasing.

Both Zimbabwe Women (10 points in six games) and Namibia Women (6 points in five matches) have qualified for the final of this WT20I tri-series, while the hosts Namibia Women still have to play against Uganda Women (0 points in five games) once more in the ongoing league stage of this tournament.  

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