Favourites and first-timers fire in early stages of Africa Qualifier
A number of headline-grabbing performances have lit up the first three days of the competition, with a number of teams showing their tournament-winning credentials well before the September 19 Final.
Group A - Botswana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Eswatini
Playing in their first ICC event, Botswana wasted little time showcasing their talents, posting an ominous 224/2 from their 20 overs against fellow first-timers, Eswatini. Olebogeng Batisani’s 77 from 66 balls set up the innings for the tournament’s hosts, with Shameelah Mosweu hitting ten boundaries in a knock of 56 (31).
Backing up her teammates, Botsogo Mpedi took 3/1 in a three-over spell, as six of Botswana’s bowlers claimed wickets.
Botswana brushed aside Mozambique in their second game, though faced fellow table-toppers Zimbabwe in the sternest test of their campaign.
The Zimbabweans are also unbeaten through their two matches, though were pushed by Tanzania in a nervy chase of 104. Nasra Saidi’s 2/9 from three overs sent jitters through Zimbabwe’s camp, though skipper Mary-Anne Musonda’s 52* from 45 balls saved the day to run down the target with six balls to spare.
Not to be outdone by Botswana’s mammoth total on day one, Tanzania posted an emphatic 228/4 against Mozambique, with Mwanaidi Swedy’s 87* (48) backing up Fatuma Kibasu’s 62 opening the batting. On the bowling side, Pierce Kamunya finished with 3/6 from four overs to lead a strong team display.
Elsewhere in the group, Rwanda were ten-wicket winners over Mozambique in their only match thus far.
Group B - Namibia, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone
Group heavyweights Namibia and Uganda squared off in the opening match of the group, and the showpiece fixture delivered, going down to the final ball.
Reeling at 1/2 after wickets for Uganda’s Irene Alumo and Concy Aweko, a 46-run partnership from Yasmeen Khan (25) and Kayleen Green (54*) moved things along, with skipper Irene van Zyl supporting Green for Namibia to reach three figures.
Letting their rivals off the hook, Uganda fell behind in the match after the early wickets of Racheal Ntono (1) to Wilka Mwatile and young gun Prosscovia Alako to a Sune Wittmann run out. Wittmann then continued Namibia’s charge with the ball, taking 2/11, with her second coming at the end of the 19th over, swinging the match in Namibia’s favour. Uganda fell four runs short, putting Namibia in pole position for the rest of the group stage.
Namibia capitalised on the head start with a win against Nigeria, who tasted the victory of their own over Sierra Leone.
Five bowlers claimed wickets as they restricted Sierra Leone to 102/9, including Joy Efosa, who also featured in the middle with the bat as the Nigerians snuck home in a five-wicket victory.
Cameroon will begin their campaign when the competition continues today, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semi-finals. The two finalists will compete for the lone qualification spot to the Global Qualifier 2022 next Sunday.