Kenya Overwhelms Mozambique with Dominant All-Round Performance
Rakep Patel produced a sensational man-of-the-match performance with 120 runs off 55 balls to guide hosts Kenya to a comfortable 111-run (DLS method) victory over Mozambique in their first game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B in Nairobi.
Batting at four, the right-hander played a massive role steadying the innings after Kenya had dropped two wickets in 2.2 overs, before helping set an insurmountable target of 224 runs.
Sachin Bhudia and Dhiren Gondaria added 38 and 28 runs respectively in a seamless first innings. After the break, Kenya’s captain Shem Ngoche put up a decent bowling display of 3-16 in four overs to restrict Mozambique to a paltry 76 in a rain-affected 16 overs.
Victory for Kenya means that they earn their first points of the tournament and are second on the six-team table behind Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe beats Seychelles at Nairobi Gymkhana Ground
Zimbabwe opened their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifier B campaign with a commanding 76-run victory (DLS method) over Seychelles at Nairobi Gymkhana.
Zimbabwe’s batting lineup showcased their firepower, posting a massive 286/5 in 20 overs. Brian Bennett was the star of the innings, smashing 91 off just 35 balls, with support from Tadiwanashe Marumani, who contributed 86 from 37 deliveries.
Seychelles’ bowlers struggled to contain Zimbabwe’s aggressive batting, with Jobayer Hossen taking 2/36. In response, Seychelles found themselves in early trouble, losing two quick wickets and managing only 18/2 in 6.1 overs before rain halted play.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by Richard Ngarava (1/1), kept a tight grip on the game, and with the DLS method applied after the unending showers, Zimbabwe secured a comfortable 76-run win.
Zimbabwe’s strong start puts them in a good position as they aim for qualification, while Seychelles will need to regroup ahead of their next match.
Match Summaries:
Rwanda v Gambia
Rwanda awarded match points.
Seychelles v Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: 286/5 (20 Overs)
Seychelles: 18/2 (6.1 Overs)
Zimbabwe won by 76 runs (DLS Method)
Kenya v Mozambique
Kenya: 224/4 (20 overs)
Mozambique: 76/8 (16 overs)
Kenya won by 111 runs (DLS Method)
Courtesy Photos