Refiloe Molise
The national women’s cricket team has delivered a promising performance at the Botswana Cricket Association’s (BCA) Kalahari T20I tournament, underlining clear progress despite winning only two of their seven matches.
The six-nation tournament, which ran from 4-12 April, featured Brazil, which was the winner, Botswana as runners up, Mozambique (third), Malawi (fourth), Lesotho (fifth) and Zambia, which came in sixth.
While Lesotho’s results were mixed, the campaign marked a step forward for the side which has struggled in past international competitions. The team capped their campaign with a convincing 48-run victory over Zambia, offering a glimpse of their growing competitiveness.
Individual performances also stood out. The squad secured three Player of the Match awards, with Boitumelo Tlali claiming two against Zambia and Mozambique, while ’Maneo Nyabela earned the accolade in another clash against Zambia.
In response, the Lesotho Cricket Association (LCA) has welcomed the overall showing, highlighting both the improved results and the team’s development trajectory.
Head coach Dzikamai Alexander Mavhiko said the outcomes reflect meaningful progress compared to previous years, when the team often failed to register a win.
“Winning two out of seven matches in our context is a lot of progress, far much better than previous years,” he said.
“This is the highest we have achieved so far, especially after securing our first-ever international win at last year’s qualifiers against eSwatini.”
A key area of improvement during the tournament was batting, long identified as the team’s main weakness. The technical team prioritised staying longer at the crease and building innings, a shift that began to show results as the competition progressed.
“Our main focus was to bat longer and occupy the crease more, as batting has been our biggest weakness,” he explained. “The early matches showed us clearly that we needed to work harder on batting more than bowling and fielding.”
Beyond tactics, team cohesion and mental resilience played a vital role. The coaching staff placed emphasis on maintaining morale, encouraging open communication and celebrating incremental gains.
“There was transparent communication, shared purpose and celebrating small wins. We focused on building a strong team culture and modeling resilience,” he said.
Nyabela emerged as one of the standout performers, delivering a strong all-round display that proved decisive in key moments.
“She made a big difference both with the ball and the bat. She also built an important partnership with Tšepy Khabo, which helped us reach a competitive total,” he said.
The tournament also reflected a long-term development approach, with a strong presence of youth in the squad. Seven Under-19 players featured in the team, signalling a deliberate effort to build depth and sustainability.
“We are focusing more on batting and bringing in Under-19 players. We already had seven Under-19 players in the squad in Botswana, which shows our commitment to building for the future,” he added.
Off the field, the LCA views the tournament as a valuable learning experience. Media Liaison Officer and National Teams Manager, Dr Clifford Molefe, said the campaign has provided critical insights to guide future preparations.
“The campaign has given us insights into both our strengths and areas that need improvement. We will use performance data and technical analysis to refine our training programs,” he said.
Grassroots development remains central to the association’s plans, with efforts underway to expand women’s cricket at school level and strengthen domestic structures.
“We are investing in structured programs in schools to introduce girls to cricket early. We are also strengthening the domestic women’s league, improving coaching through certification programs and increasing training camps for the national team,” he said.
However, funding constraints continue to limit progress.
“Funding affects everythingfacilities, coaching and competition opportunities. Without consistent financial support, it is difficult to sustain growth and provide adequate exposure,” he explained.
The association is now exploring international partnerships to boost development through exchange programmes and competitive opportunities.
“We want to build strategic partnerships with other cricket boards and organisations. Exchange programs, international training camps and bilateral series will be key in raising our standards,” Molefe said.
Despite the challenges, the team leaves Botswana with renewed confidence and belief.
“The players now believe they can compete and that confidence is crucial going forward,” he said.
He urged the public to focus on the bigger picture.
“I want people to see the growth and determination of this team. Even if results do not always show it immediately, there is clear improvement in performance, discipline and competitiveness. This team is building something meaningful for the future,” he said.
Summary
- The technical team prioritised staying longer at the crease and building innings, a shift that began to show results as the competition progressed.
- The tournament also reflected a long-term development approach, with a strong presence of youth in the squad.
- We already had seven Under-19 players in the squad in Botswana, which shows our commitment to building for the future,” he added.
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