Zimbabwe Women won the toss and elected to bat first in their T20I match against South Africa Women at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on Friday afternoon.

The hosts have a new-look leadership group. This is Mark Coles’ maiden series as Zimbabwe’s head coach. However, Coles has been forced to wait a while before he has his captain, Josephine Nkomo, in the middle. first outing as the team’s captain.

Nkomo’s first tour as captain was supposed to be Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan, but she missed out because of an injury. She was not picked to play in this encounter. However, the hosts will have the services of Sharne Meyers, who was away from the international game for two years. Her valuable experience will be a boon to Zimbabwe.

South Africa, on the other hand, has flown in a team for the future to Bulawayo. The visitors, led by Laura Wolvaardt, have a youthful side. Woolvardt, Annerie Dercksen, Karabo Meso and Kayla Reyneke are the only other players who featured at the T20 World, while the rest are either uncapped or trying to solidify their positions in the side.

According to Wolvaardt, this tour will play an important role in South Africa’s preparations for the ICC Women's Champions Trophy in February next year. This opens the door for their youngsters to put in notable performances to position themselves well in the team’s plans.

South Africa’s contingent will be determined to dominate their northern neighbours, who have not had a good run on the international circuit. Zimbabwe are yet to win a T20I this year. They lost their home series against the UAE and did not pick a single win in all four of their matches at the T20 World Cup qualifiers. They also succumbed to defeat when they faced New Zealand and Pakistan.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Nondumiso Shangase, Faye Tunnicliffe, Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Karabo Meso (wk), Eliz-Mari Marx, Caitlin Wyngaard, Seshnie Naidu, Nthabiseng Nini.

ZIMBABWE: Sharne Mayers, Nyasha Gwanzura, Kelis Ndhlovu, Beloved Biza, Loreen Tshuma, Modester Mupachikwa (wk), Michelle Mavunga, Christina Mutasa, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Nomvelo Sibanda, Tendai Makusha.