Annerie Dercksen's stunning half-century was instrumental in SA Emerging Women's commanding eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe's national team in the inaugural T20 match at Harare Sports Club. Her exceptional performance was pivotal in securing a resounding victory for the team in Harare on Sunday.

Opening batter, Dercksen aggressively dispatched four sixes and six fours on her way to a 30-ball 58* as the visitors chased down Zimbabwe’s first-innings score of 96/7 with 52 balls remaining to take a 1-0 series lead in the six-match series. 

With ball in hand, another all-rounder in Eliz-Mari Marx was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, grabbing figures of two for nine in her four overs, as the Emerging side troubled and restricted their opposition batters. 

Under sunny conditions in the capital city, SA Emerging lost the toss and was asked to bowl first, a decision that left the away side unfazed, as the South African bowlers ripped through the Zimbabwe top-order in the opening powerplay. 

Experienced spinner, Jané Winster of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers picked up the first wicket of the encounter, removing the hosts' captain Mary-Anne Musonda (5) with the seventh ball of the match before Marx struck twice in three deliveries in the fifth over to leave Zimbabwe reeling on 17/3. 

Things went from bad to worse for the home side as SA Emerging captain Leah Jones (1/5) picked up the wicket of Ashley Ndiraya (1) in the final field-restricted over of the innings as Zimbabwe ended the opening period on 20/4 after six overs. 

With the help of the valiant effort from opening batter Kelis Ndhlovu (14) along with middle-order cameos from top-scorers Josephine Nkomo (34*) and  Nyasha Gwanzura (26), Zimbabwe battled to 96/7 in their allotted 20 overs despite continuing to lose wickets at regular intervals throughout their innings. 

The other wicket-takers for South Africa included Nondumiso Shangase (1/6), Seshnie Naidu (1/18) and Nobulumko Baneti (1/12). 

In their chase, the SA Emerging team undertook an aggressive approach through their openers Dercksen and Andrie Steyn (16), with the former playing the protagonist role. 

The pair put on a 57-run opening partnership off just 34 balls, with Dercksen powering the ball to parts of the ground while Steyn provided the platform for her partner to shine before she fell to Ndhlovu (2/12) in the last over of the powerplay. 

Although Dercksen saw a second wicket fall at the other end, with Ndhlovu bowling Lara Goodall (3) in the eighth over, the tall all-rounder continued to impose herself at the crease as she brought up an explosive half-century off 25 deliveries as she found a willing partner in Shangase (16*)

The Proteas-capped duo then saw South Africa over the line after 11.2 overs with Dercksen ending with an unbeaten and match-winning 58* off 30 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes).  

The second T20 between Zimbabwe and the SA Emerging will get underway on Monday, 20 September at the Harare Sports Club in Harare from 14h00 CAT. 

SA Emerging Women Squad vs Zimbabwe (2023/24):

Nobulumko Baneti (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Jenna Evans (DP World Lions), Lara Goodall (Western Province), Leah Jones (Western Province), Tebogo Macheke (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Refilwe Moncho (DP World Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Asakhe Nyovane (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), *Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Andrie Steyn (Western Province), Jané Winster (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers)

*Squad Update - Tumi Sekhukhune has replaced Ayanda Hlubi in the SA Emerging squad for the Zimbabwe T20 Series. 

Results: SA Emerging Women vs Zimbabwe

Sunday, 19 November - 

SA Emerging beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets

Zimbabwe: 96/7 after 20 overs; J. Nkomo 34* (50), N. Gwanzura 26 (22); E. Marx 2/9, N. Shangase 1/6

SA Emerging: 99/2 after 11.2 overs; A. Dercksen 58* (30), A. Steyn 16 (15); K. Ndhlovu 2/12, A. Mazvishaya 0/7

Fixtures: SA Emerging Women vs Zimbabwe

Monday, 20 November @ 14h00 CAT- 2nd T20 - Zimbabwe vs SA Emerging Women (Harare Sports Club, Harare)

Wednesday, 22 November @ 14h00 CAT - 3rd T20 - Zimbabwe vs SA Emerging Women (Harare Sports Club, Harare)

Friday, 24 November @ 12h00 CAT - 4th T20 - Zimbabwe vs SA Emerging Women (Takashinga Sports Club, Harare) 

Sunday, 26 November @ 12h00 CAT - 5th T20 - Zimbabwe vs SA Emerging Women (Takashinga Sports Club, Harare)

Monday, 27 November @ 12h00 CAT - 6th T20 - Zimbabwe vs SA Emerging Women (Takashinga Sports Club, Harare)