Kelis Ndhlovu
{{short description|Zimbabwean cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Kelis Ndhlovu
| female = true
| image =
| country = Zimbabwe
| international = true
| fullname = Kelis Tanyaradzwa Ndhlovu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|11|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Chitungwiza, Harare Province, Zimbabwe
| death_date =
| death_place =
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Slow left arm orthodox
| role = Batting all-rounder
| odidebutdate = 19 April
| odidebutyear = 2023
| odidebutagainst = Thailand
| odicap = 19
| lastodidate = 28 March
| lastodiyear = 2024
| lastodiagainst = Papua New Guinea
| T20Idebutdate = 20 April
| T20Idebutyear = 2022
| T20Idebutagainst = Namibia
| T20Icap = 23
| lastT20Idate = 1 May
| lastT20Iyear = 2024
| lastT20Iagainst = Netherlands
| club1 = Eagles women's cricket team
| year1 = {{nowrap|2020/21–present}}
| columns = 2
| column1 = WODI
| matches1 = 9
| runs1 = 102
| bat avg1 = 12.75
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 34
| deliveries1 = 438
| wickets1 = 15
| bowl avg1 = 16.00
| fivefor1 = 1
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 5/22
| catches/stumpings1 = 2/–
| column2 = WT20I
| matches2 = 39
| runs2 = 610
| bat avg2 = 19.67
| 100s/50s2 = 0/2
| top score2 = 58*
| deliveries2 = 665
| wickets2 = 36
| bowl avg2 = 17.19
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 3/12
| catches/stumpings2 = 3/–
| date = 31 May 2024
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/kelis-ndhlovu-1250707 Cricinfo
}}
Kelis Ndhlovu (born 16 November 2005) is a Zimbabwean cricketer who plays for the Zimbabwe women's national cricket team.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1250707.html |title=Francisca Chipare |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=31 May 2024}} She is an all-rounder, who plays as a left-arm orthodox bowler and a left-hand batter. Her father Eddie Ndhlovu is a well-known filmmaker in the country.{{Cite web |last=Moyo |first=Brandon |date=16 March 2024 |title=Between the Silver screen and the Gold medal... Filmmaker Eddie Ndhlovu celebrates daughter's historic triumph |url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/between-the-silver-screen-and-gold-medal-filmmaker-eddie-ndhlovu-celebrates-daughters-historic-cricket-triumph/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=The Chronicle}}
She took most wickets in the 2022 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE.{{Cite web |title=ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier, 2022 bowling most wickets career Records |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/bowling-most-wickets-career/icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-qualifier-2022-14911 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} She represented Zimbabwe in 2023 Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup. In 2024, she won Player of the Tournament as Zimbabwe won gold medal in the African Games.
On 19 April 2023, she became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul for Zimbabwe in women's ODIs.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-19 |title=Ndhlovu fifer on ODI debut in vain as Zimbabwe Women fall to Thailand Women {{!}} Three Men On a Boat |url=https://3-mob.com/sport/ndhlovu-fifer-on-odi-debut-in-vain-as-zimbabwe-women-fall-to-thailand-women/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Ndhlovu fifer on ODI debut in vain as Zimbabwe Women fall to Thailand Women {{!}} Three Men On a Boat {{!}} Zimbabwes leading social commentary and news site |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Zimbabwe Women Women ODI matches bowling best figures innings |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/team/bowling-best-figures-innings/zimbabwe-women-4203/women-s-one-day-internationals-9 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}
Background
Ndhlovu took the game of cricket at primary school as her friend convinced her to take it. Her friend's mother wanted her friend to take cricket which made Ndhlovu and her friend play together. Though her friend dropped from the sport, she continued playing. When she was in Grade Three, she set herself target to "take either player, batter or bowler of the match, or fielder of the tournament" in every game she plays.
She did her primary schooling at Prince Edward School at Harare. Later she studied at Sake 3 High, followed by Wise Owl. She is simultaneously pursuing her studies, along with playing cricket for her country. She utilizes private tutors and when on a tour, she takes online classes.{{Cite web |date=1 October 2022 |title=Kelis Ndhlovu has cricket world on her feet |url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/kelis-ndhlovu-has-cricket-world-at-her-feet/ |access-date=31 May 2022 |website=The Chronicle}} She said that she "stays up till 3am every day studying".
She idolizes Zimbabwean players Modester Mupachikwa and Milton Shumba.{{Cite web |date=1 May 2022 |title=Ndhlovu comes of age |url=https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/ndhlovu-comes-of-age |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=The Sunday Mail}}
Career
Ndhlovu at the age of 16, has won two titles for Eagles in the span of five months. On 20 April 2022, Ndhlovu made her international debut for Zimbabwe against Namibia in Capricorn Tri-Series at Windhoek. Four days later, she scored her maiden T20I fifty. She then shared a 156-run unbeaten partnership with Sharne Mayers, which she described as "the best moment ever". Later in the year, she played in the 2022 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in UAE, where she was the leading wicket taker with 11 wickets. Already having senior international experience, she played for Zimbabwe in the 2023 Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup. Prior to the tournament, she was part of the three-week U19 training camp and a preparatory tour against South Africa. In March 2023, she scored her maiden List-A century, with a score of 109 off 102 balls for Eagles against Rhinos. She made her ODI debut nearly an year after T20I debut, on 19 April 2023 against Thailand.
She took a five-wicket haul for 22 runs on her debut, although Zimbabwe ended in losing cause.{{Cite web |title=THI-W vs ZIM-W Cricket Scorecard, 1st ODI at Bangkok, April 19, 2023 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zimbabwe-women-in-thailand-2023-1365307/thailand-women-vs-zimbabwe-women-1st-odi-1368830/full-scorecard |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} At the age of 17 years and 154 days, she then became the third youngest woman to take a five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.{{Cite web |last=Cricket |first=Team Female |date=2024-04-22 |title=Who is Kelis Ndhlovu {{!}} Bio {{!}} Stats {{!}} Zimbabwe Player |url=https://femalecricket.com/t20-wc-qualifiers-2024/40786-who-is-kelis-ndhlovu-bio-stats-zimbabwe-player.html |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Female Cricket |language=en-US}} She took ten wickets at an average of 5.80 in her debut series, despite her side being whitewashed 0-3. In February 2024, she took four wickets for just nine runs in a twenty-over game against OMTEX Cricket Institute in Mumbai.{{Cite web |date=3 December 2022 |title=Ndhlovu shines for U-19 women victory |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/ndhlovu-shines-for-u-19-women-victory-2/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=The Herald)}} She represented Zimbabwe in 2024 African Games in March 2024 (first edition of African Games to feature cricket), and hit the winning runs against South Africa Emerging team, to seal the gold medal.{{Cite web |title=Zimbabwe clinch African Games gold after thrilling super over win over team SA |url=https://www.cricketworld.com/zimbabwe-clinch-african-games-gold-after-thrilling-super-over-win-over-team-sa/93202.htm |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Cricket World}} She was named as Player of the Match in the final as well as Player of the Tournament in the African Games. She was invited to take part in 2024 FairBreak Invitational in Antigua, however no such tournament seemed to materialize.{{Cite web |last=Moyo |first=Brandon |date=16 March 2024 |title=Between the Silver screen and the Gold medal... Filmmaker Eddie Ndhlovu celebrates daughter's historic triumph |url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/between-the-silver-screen-and-gold-medal-filmmaker-eddie-ndhlovu-celebrates-daughters-historic-cricket-triumph/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=The Chronicle}}
Ndhlovu has been nominated for ICC Women's Player of the Month for April 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=Kelis Ndhlovu nominated for ICC Women's Player of the Month Award |url=https://ztn.co.zw/kelis-ndhlovu-nominated-for-icc-womens-player-of-the-month-award/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=ZTN |language=en-US}} She then became the youngest player to be nominated for the ICC monthly award.{{Cite web |title=Kelis Ndlovu continues to shine |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/kelis-ndlovu-continues-to-shine/ |website=The Herald}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=1250707}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ndhlovu, Kelis}}
Category:Zimbabwean women cricketers
Category:Zimbabwe women One Day International cricketers
Category:Zimbabwe women Twenty20 International cricketers
Category:Eagles women cricketers
Category:Cricketers at the 2023 African Games