Cricket: Malawi U19 edge Kenya in thriller to lift Division 2 trophy
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Malawi plays lift the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 qualifier trophy after edging Kenya by 2 wickets in a thrilling finish to the tournament.

Tuesday, August 27

Malawi vs Kenya

Kenya U19: 109/8 (20 overs)

Malawi U19: 110/8 (19.2 overs)

Malawi won by 2 wickets

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.

Table standings

  1. Malawi U19
  2. Kenya U19
  3. Sierra Leone U19
  4. Botswana U19
  5. Mozambique U19
  6. Eswatini U19
  7. Lesotho U19