Namibian cricketers secure semi-final spot
SPORTS REPORTER
Namibia confirmed their spot in the semi-finals with a convincing 36-run win over Kenya in a table-toppers clash on match day four, game seven of the seventh edition of the Kwibuka Women’s Twenty20 International Tournament at Gahanga Stadium in Rwanda.
It was the fourth consecutive win for Namibia, who are making their debut at this annual event whose initial edition was played in 2014 to honour the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Players in top form
Adri van der Merwe (33 runs off 41 balls) and Sune Wittmann (39 runs off 26 balls) combined for a 65-run opening stand in 9.3 overs that was littered with 12 boundaries after Kenya captain Margaret Banja Ngoche won the toss and asked them to bat.
Those two were the last to score runs freely as Kenya clawed back into the contest courtesy of their slow bowlers, Queentor Abel (1 wicket for 23 runs in 4 overs), Sarah Bhakita Wetoto (3 wickets for 13 runs in 4 overs), and Esther Wangari Wachira (2 wickets for 18 runs in 4 fours).
Wilka Mwatile (11 runs) and skipper Irene van Zyl (10 runs not out) also reached double figures as the Capricorn Eagles set 110 runs for 6 wickets.
Needing 5.5 runs per over to win, Kenya’s innings got off to the worst start with the dangerous Veronicah Abuga dismissed for 2 runs by van Zyl (3 wickets for 11 runs in 3.2 overs).
Kenya were still in the game at 50 for 2 but when the experienced pair of Sharon Juma (12 runs off 11 balls) and Wetoto (5 runs off 9 balls) fell in quick succession, the wheels came off their ship.
Namibian spinner Victoria Hamunyela returned figures of 4 wickets for 15 runs to win her second player of the match accolade as Kenya folded 74 runs in 14.2 overs.
The loss meant that Kenya stay on 4 points as Namibia ascended to 8 points, four ahead of the five nations in the fray.
Namibia confirmed their spot in the semi-finals with a convincing 36-run win over Kenya in a table-toppers clash on match day four, game seven of the seventh edition of the Kwibuka Women’s Twenty20 International Tournament at Gahanga Stadium in Rwanda.
It was the fourth consecutive win for Namibia, who are making their debut at this annual event whose initial edition was played in 2014 to honour the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Players in top form
Adri van der Merwe (33 runs off 41 balls) and Sune Wittmann (39 runs off 26 balls) combined for a 65-run opening stand in 9.3 overs that was littered with 12 boundaries after Kenya captain Margaret Banja Ngoche won the toss and asked them to bat.
Those two were the last to score runs freely as Kenya clawed back into the contest courtesy of their slow bowlers, Queentor Abel (1 wicket for 23 runs in 4 overs), Sarah Bhakita Wetoto (3 wickets for 13 runs in 4 overs), and Esther Wangari Wachira (2 wickets for 18 runs in 4 fours).
Wilka Mwatile (11 runs) and skipper Irene van Zyl (10 runs not out) also reached double figures as the Capricorn Eagles set 110 runs for 6 wickets.
Needing 5.5 runs per over to win, Kenya’s innings got off to the worst start with the dangerous Veronicah Abuga dismissed for 2 runs by van Zyl (3 wickets for 11 runs in 3.2 overs).
Kenya were still in the game at 50 for 2 but when the experienced pair of Sharon Juma (12 runs off 11 balls) and Wetoto (5 runs off 9 balls) fell in quick succession, the wheels came off their ship.
Namibian spinner Victoria Hamunyela returned figures of 4 wickets for 15 runs to win her second player of the match accolade as Kenya folded 74 runs in 14.2 overs.
The loss meant that Kenya stay on 4 points as Namibia ascended to 8 points, four ahead of the five nations in the fray.
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