ICC Women’s U19 WC Africa qualifiers: Malawi starts strong a ruthless Kenya ease past Lesotho

Thursday fixtures 9.30am - Eswatini U19 Vs Mozambique U19 at Gahanga 1 9.30am - Botswana U19 Vs Lesotho U19 at Gahanga 2 1.50pm - Kenya U19 Vs Sierra Leone U19 at Gahanga 1 1.50pm – Malawi U19 Vs Mozambique U19 at Gahanga 2 Malawi made their intentions clear in the tournament following a ruthless 9-wicket victory over Eswatini on Wednesday, August 21 at Gahanga Cricket Stadium. Having won the toss, Malawi made light work of Eswatini thanks to Evah Kabwere’s sensational bowling figures of 6 for 5 to restrict the latter to a paltry score of 26 runs inside 11 overs. None of Eswatini’s batters was able to get into double figures. In the second innings, Eswatini did not help their cause as they conceded 11 quick extras, helping Malawi chase down the score within four overs for the loss of only one wicket. While receiving her Player of the Match award, Kabwere thanked her teammates for a stellar all-round display. “This award goes to all my teammates who were excellent in the field. Everyone looked sharp today, and I hope we can carry on like this throughout the tournament,” she said. The Malawians secured back-to-back wins following an 8-wicket victory over Sierra Leone on the opening day of the Kigali qualifier. Malawi’s decision to field first was brilliant as they cruised through Sierra Leone’s batting order, with Fatu Conteh offering the West African side’s only resistance. Conteh scored 30 runs to finish as Sierra Leone’s only batter in double figures as the West Africans laboured to 76 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Malawi’s top-order batter Mercy Kudimba scored an unbeaten 36 off 31 runs to maintain her side’s perfect start to the tournament. She scored five boundaries and was well supported by Febbe Malefula who also finished unbeaten on 11 to propel her side to 80 for 2 in 10 overs. Mozambique vs Botswana Despite a maiden half-century (51 runs off 46 balls) and a spectacular catch in the covers, Mozambique’s captain, Amelia Lucas Mundodo, could only look on as Botswana chased down their first innings score of 106 runs with nine balls to spare to claim a 5-wicket victory on Match-day one at Gahanga 2 ground. Botswana’s win was primarily orchestrated by Lesego Koogile, who picked three crucial wickets for 19 runs in the first innings, and a timely cameo display with the bat from player of the match Oratile Tsimako (25 off 20). Tsimako walked to the crease in the 14th over, with Botswana in all sorts of trouble at 64 for 4, but quickly steadied the ship before finding back-to-back boundaries in the 18th and 19th over to secure a much-needed win for her side. Botswana returns to action on Thursday, August 22, against Lesotho, while Mozambique plays back-to-back games against Eswatini and Malawi. Lesotho vs Kenya Kenya lived up to their pre-tournament favourites tag following their emphatic 214 runs victory over Lesotho on Matchday one at Gahanga 1 ground. Kenya Captain Melvin Khagoitsa’s unbeaten 96 from just 51 balls after winning the toss and opting to bat guided the East Africans to an emphatic 247 score; the tournament’s highest total so far. En route to her score, she drilled 16 boundaries and two maximums. Kreeshna Mehta (63 off 46), Zainabu Hamisi (20 off 22) and Janet Makau (20 off 12) also weighed in with valuable knocks. In the second innings, Kenya kept the tempo as they bundled out the Southern Africa side for a paltry score of 33 in 18.1 overs. Despite almost batting out their allotted overs, Lesotho found scoring challenging thanks to Kenya's tight bowling. Stella Idagiza (3 for 3) and Janet Makau (3 for 6) led Kenya’s assault with the ball. Khagoitsa won the Player of the Match award and will hope to keep the momentum going against Sierra Leone on Thursday, August 22.

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ICC Women’s U19 WC Africa qualifiers: Malawi starts strong a ruthless Kenya ease past Lesotho