Rwanda secured a walkover victory against Gambia after the latter failed to show up for their match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B. Meanwhile, host Kenya triumphed over Mozambique, and Zimbabwe dominated Seychelles in their opening matches, laying the foundation for a competitive tournament.
In a notable development at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B held in Nairobi, Rwanda was awarded full match points following Gambia’s failure to arrive for their scheduled match. The encounter was set to commence on October 19 at 9:30 AM at Gymkhana Club, but the Gambian team did not make an appearance. As a result, the umpire conferred the victory to Rwanda, granting them an immediate two-point advantage. Rwanda’s next contest is against Seychelles at the Ruaraka Sports Club on Sunday. In parallel, hosts Kenya experienced a commanding performance against Mozambique, led by Rakep Patel’s explosive 120 runs off only 55 balls. This impressive inning facilitated Kenya to a decisive victory by 111 runs via the DLS method. After a shaky start, losing two wickets within the first three overs, Kenya managed to set a formidable target of 224 runs with key contributions from Sachin Bhudia (38 runs) and Dhiren Gondaria (28 runs). In the bowling department, Kenya’s captain Shem Ngoche achieved figures of 3-16 in four overs, effectively limiting Mozambique to a mere 76 runs in a rain-affected 16 overs. This win secured Kenya their first points of the tournament, positioning them second in the six-team table, trailing only Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe commenced their campaign with a commanding 76-run victory over Seychelles, also utilizing the DLS method at the Nairobi Gymkhana. Zimbabwe showcased their batting prowess, amassing an impressive 286 runs for 5 wickets over the course of 20 overs. The standout performer was Brian Bennett, who scored an astounding 91 runs from just 35 deliveries, aided by Tadiwanashe Marumani’s contribution of 86 runs from 37 balls. In contrast, Seychelles struggled in response, losing crucial wickets early and managing only 18 runs for 2 wickets before rain interrupted play. Nevertheless, Zimbabwe’s bowlers, spearheaded by Richard Ngarava (1/1), maintained strong control throughout the match, ensuring a comfortable victory and bolstering their qualification prospects. As Seychelles prepares for their upcoming games, they will need to regroup and strategize to improve their standings in the tournament.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B is a crucial tournament aimed at determining which teams will advance to higher-level competitions within the ICC framework. It features several African countries competing in a series of matches, with the hopes of qualifying for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The recent matches highlighted the varying performance levels among the participating teams, reflecting both strong individual achievements and opportunities for improvement. With matches scheduled regularly, teams must maintain their competitive edge and adapt to the pressures of tournament play.
In summary, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B has commenced with notable outcomes, particularly Rwanda’s unchallenged entry into the tournament through a walkover win against Gambia. Kenya’s strong performance against Mozambique and Zimbabwe’s impressive opening against Seychelles underscore the competitiveness of the tournament. As teams continue to vie for qualification, the results will play a pivotal role in determining the future landscape of T20 cricket in the region.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
