'I was heartbroken, shattered' - Josephine Nkomo recalls Zimbabwe's 'terrible' defeat at T20 World Cup Qualifier

Josephine Nkomo, the vice-captain of the Zimbabwe women's team, has reflected on the heartbreaking moment of her side missing to secure their first-ever World Cup appearance. It happened during the 2023 T20 World Cup Qualifier semi-final against Ireland, where Zimbabwe fell short by just four runs.

In the 16th over of a 138-run chase, Nkomo arrived at the crease at 99/4, with her team needing 39 runs in 29 balls. Zimbabwe lost two wickets in the following 14 balls and could score only nine runs. Despite the pressure, Nkomo managed to take two runs off the next ball and hit a boundary on the next.

When Zimbabwe needed 24 off 12, Nkomo struck another four off the last ball of the penultimate over, leaving them with 15 runs needed from the final over. Her partner Precious Marange scored seven runs off the first four balls and a wide and a single brought the equation down, but Marange, who needed to hit a six off the last ball, failed to do so as Zimbabwe lost by four runs.

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Reminiscing the defeat, the right-arm medium fast bowler, stated that it was a "terrible" loss. She also recalled the emotional toll it took one the team, expressing how shattered she felt afterwards.

"What I remember is terrible, absolute loss. I really thought we could get over the line. It was heartbreaking. I remember watching from the other end and there was nothing that I could do at that time. I was heartbroken. I was just shattered. And I also thought for my team-mates after all the effort, getting so close and not getting over the line. I felt that maybe if you don't even get to the semi-finals, the heartbreak is much better than when you're so close but you don't get over the line. So I wouldn't want to experience that again," Nkomo told ESPNcricinfo's Powerplay podcast. 

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Zimbabwe now have the opportunity to ensure that Nkomo and the other members of the squad do not undergo a similar disappointment when they compete in the 2024 T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, in March 2024, Zimbabwe emerged victorious in the inaugural cricket event at the Africa Games, clinching a thrilling victory over South Africa in a Super Over in the summit clash.  

"We really had a good time out there in Ghana. We had a successful tournament as a team and against South Africa and we got over the line. It was an exciting game with so much adrenaline in it and we really had a lot of fun," she said further.