Botswana won the toss and elected to bat first in their ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier against Sierra Leone but struggled against latter’s disciplined bowling attack. Monroux Kasselman and George Oosthuizen were the only batters to reach double digits, scoring 22 and 13 runs respectively.
Botswana was bowled out for just 65 runs in 28.3 overs. Raymond Coker led the charge with an impressive 4-9 from 9 overs, well supported by James Bangura who took 3-14 from 6 overs.
In response, Sierra Leone chased down the target with ease, reaching 67/3 in just 14.5 overs. David Halloway top-scored with a brisk 38 off 32 balls. This victory cements Sierra Leone’s position at the top of Group A with 3 wins out of 3.
In a heartwarming gesture, Player of the Match and captain of Sierra Leone, Raymond Coker, gave his award to James Bangura, recognizing his efforts and highlighting him as the unsung hero of the team.
Botswana Captain Jack Richards reflected on the match, stating, “There are many things to learn from this tournament, especially the need to work more on our batting in order to advance to the next level.”
Rwanda vs Malawi:
In a thrilling low-scoring encounter, Malawi defended the lowest total of the tournament so far, securing a win but falling short on Net Run Rate. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Malawi was bowled out for 70 runs in 33 overs.
Apart from the opening pair of Philip Zuze, who scored 10 off 15 balls, and Hamza Vayani, who managed 15 off 46 balls, no other batter reached double digits.
Elise Gihozo from Rwanda was the standout bowler, taking 5-15 from his 10 overs. Rwanda’s chase was filled with drama, especially the last partnership between Jules Mugisha and Moise Kigabo, which kept three teams on the edge of their seats.
Malawi, Rwanda, and Botswana all had their eyes on the result. Despite Rwanda being bowled out for 63 runs in 34.2 overs, they managed to advance to the semi-finals based on their Net Run Rate, courtesy of playing out the maximum overs in the game.
Hamza Vayani shone for Malawi, taking 3-14 in 6 overs. Despite the win, Malawi was eliminated based on Net Run Rate, while Rwanda advanced to the semi-finals.
Match Summaries:
Sierra Leone vs Botswana:
Botswana U19: 65/10 (28.3 overs)
Sierra Leone U19: 67/3 (14.5 overs)
Sierra Leone won by 7 wickets
Rwanda vs Malawi:
Malawi U19: 70/10 (33.0 overs)
Rwanda U19: 63/10 (34.2 overs)
Malawi won by 7 runs
Thursday 8th August will be a rest day as the top two teams from each of the group prepare for the semi-finals.
Upcoming Fixtures: Friday 9th August 2024
- Gymkhana: Nigeria U19 vs Sierra Leone U19
- UDSM: Tanzania U19 vs Rwanda U19
Courtesy Photos
