Kenya completed an embarrassingly facile 180-run victory against Eswatini after bundling out the Southern Africa side for the tournament’s lowest score inside 8 overs.
Eswatini suffered a horrible system failure, collapsing to 14 all out in 7.3 overs after losing the toss. Kenya captain Melvin Khagoitsa led the bowling assault with career-best bowling figures of 7 for 3 in 3.3 overs.
Janet Makau (2 for 6 in 2 overs) and Stella Idagiza (1 for 4 in 2 overs) also weighed in with valuable wickets. Earlier, opening batter Kreeshna Mehta anchored Kenya’s innings with her third half-century of the tournament. Mehta was just seven runs shy of what could also have been her second tournament century after scoring 93 off 67 deliveries with 12 boundaries.
With qualification for Division 1 safely in the bag, Kenya turned their focus to the tournament trophy in a highly anticipated title decider against Malawi later in the day.
Malawi vs Kenya:
Malawi held their nerve to squeeze out a tight two-wicket victory over Kenya in a thrilling ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 title decider at Gahanga Cricket Stadium.
In a dramatic match that swung one way and then the other, Malawi’s ability to rotate the strike in the final overs determined the result.
Chasing Kenya’s total of 109 for 8 – thanks to a superb half-century (56 off 37 balls) from Captain Melvin Khagoitsa – Malawi had a shaky start to the run chase after losing five wickets mid-way the second innings for a paltry 35 runs.
However, a quickfire 21 off 17 from Esther Richard and 28 not-out from Malawi Captain Ketrina Maliamu Chingaipe, helped the Southern African side to 110 for 8 with four balls to spare in a low-scoring thriller.
The result means that Malawi finished the tournament unbeaten, while Kenya suffered one defeat. The two sides are now through to next month’s ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Kigali, where they will face Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda and Nigeria. The winner will progress to the 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia and Thailand.
Botswana vs Sierra Leone:
Emma Kamara struck 47 while Susan Sesay ripped the heart out of Botswana as Sierra Leone clinched a comprehensive seven-wicket victory on Matchday 5.
Kamara crunched 47 off 38 balls, cracking six boundaries along the way, to lead the West Africans to their third tournament victory. In the first innings, Sesay obliterated Botswana’s top order and eventually finished with superb figures of 4-12 from four overs.
The win moved the two sides to level points, but Sierra Leone had the last laugh. They won their final game against Mozambique to leapfrog Botswana into third place with eight points.
Eswatini vs Lesotho:
Eswatini finished their campaign on a high after securing a 6-wicket victory against Lesotho. Having lost the toss, Eswatini ensured Lesotho did not get easy runs as they stifled the batters’ scoring opportunities by bowling tight lines.
Dlamini Owami Siphosethu led Eswatini’s bowling attack with 1 for 1 in 4 overs, including three maidens, and was well supported by Tsabedze Nomazwi Purity (2 for 15 in 4 overs) and Mkhonta Nomphilo Melissa (2 for 11 in 3 overs) to limit Lesotho to 50 for 8.
Eswatini then chased down the score in 11.3 overs, losing four wickets. Shabalala Lihle Nonsikelelo top-scored for Eswatini with an unbeaten 33 runs. The win earned Eswatini their first tournament points (two), while Lesotho finished bottom on the points table after a run of 6 defeats.
Mozambique vs Sierra Leone:
Emma Kamara delivered a rasping century to lead Sierra Leone to their highest total in the tournament (157/5) and a comfortable 69-run victory against Mozambique in their final match.
Kamara’s knock came off 78 deliveries, including 18 fours, as she recorded her maiden ton in her burgeoning career. Leonor Virgelino Mandhate was the stand-out bowler for Mozambique after picking two wickets for 20 in her four overs.
After the break, Mariama Jalloh (3 for 17 in 4 overs) and Captain Alice Fillie (2 for 16 in 3 overs) stifled Mozambique’s run as they dismissed the side’s key batters at regular intervals.
The win cemented Sierra Leone’s third-place finish on the points table with eight points, while Mozambique finished a distant sixth with four points after a run of two wins and four defeats.
Match Summaries:
Malawi Vs Kenya:
Kenya U19: 109/8 (20 overs)
Malawi U19: 110/8 (19.2 overs)
Malawi won by 2 wickets
Eswatini Vs Kenya:
Kenya U19: 194/6 (20 overs)
Eswatini U19: 14/10 (7.3 overs)
Kenya won by 180 runs
Botswana Vs Sierra Leone:
Botswana U19: 64/5 (20 overs)
Sierra Leone U19: 65/3 (10.2 overs)
Sierra Leone won by 7 wickets
Eswatini Vs Lesotho:
Lesotho U19: 50/8 (20 overs)
Eswatini U19: 54/4 (11.3 overs)
Eswatini won by 6 wickets
Mozambique Vs Sierra Leone:
Sierra Leone U19: 157/5 (20 overs)
Lesotho U19: 88/9 (18.3 overs)
Sierra Leone won by 69 runs
Courtesy Photos
