Born on 26th November 1982 in Mutare, ODI and T20 International for Zimbabwe, Precious Marange.
The evergreen allrounder is also part of Zimbabwe’s Women’s Rugby and Sevens, playing for three national teams: the Lady Chevrons (cricket) the Lady Sables (Rugby) and the Lady Cheetahs (sevens Rugby).
A left-hand batter and right-arm off-break bowler, Precious was introduced to cricket in 2004 when she was working as a house-maid. So she wouldn’t watch television while they were at work they left the cricket on. Day by day Precious learned about this strange game and by chance stumbled across the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare. She announced that she wanted to try playing cricket. The rest is history.
Precious made her debut for Zimbabwe at the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in 2008/09, however the team was yet to gain ICC status. It would not be for another ten years before Precious, and the entire Zimbabwe team made their debut in an official ICC match.
At Sparta Cricket Club Ground, Walvis Bay on 5th January 2019, Precious was part of the Zimbabwe team making their debut on the international stage when they took on Namibia. It was a modest result for Precious but the team won and went on a 14 game winning streak under captain Mary-Anne Musonda.
Precious has since played a total of 62 T20Is, with a high score of 40, along with 57 wickets at 14.45. Her best of 5-7 was against Uganda at Entebbe in December 2023.
In the ODI format, Precious made her debut – along with the entire Zimbabwe team – in 2021 against Ireland. The team won the match and became only the seventh team in women’s cricket history to win their debut match in ODIs.
In June 2022, Precious represented Zimbabwe in the women’s Rugby Africa Cup. One wonders what her previous employer thinks today, knowing that their housemaid is one of Zimbabwe’s best sports stars?