Former Zimbabwe women’s national cricket team star Sarah Dambanevana has become the first female domestic cricket referee to officiate in a major final.
The development follows her stint in the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup between India and England at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Sunday.
The 32-year-old rising match official had already made history at the start of the competition when she became the first domestic female cricket umpire to officiate in a major competition.
Dambanevana went on to write more history when he stood in the final which was won by India.
She was joined by Trinidad & Tobago’s Candace LaBorde in the middle.
The pair were part of an all-female cast of match officials for the U10 Women’s World Cup final, which was appointed by the ICC.
The pair of Dambanevana and LaBorde were joined by fourth umpire Lisa McCabe and TV umpire Debunu De Silva. The referee of the match was Venessa De Silva.
Dambavenana’s historic achievement at the ICC Women’s U19 World Cup comes after she broke new ground at the local level when she became the first woman to referee a domestic final during last season’s Fifty50 Challenge. She was accompanied by Percival Sizara as the other referee on the field in March last year.
Seven months later in October, she again made history by standing in her first List A match between Rhinos and Alliance Health Eagles at Kwekwe Sports Club.
