Entebbe [Uganda]Dec 18 (ANI): Zimbabwe and Uganda women’s cricket teams have clinched their places in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers after their impressive performances in the African qualifiers.
Uganda and Zimbabwe were unbeaten in the group stage and went on to win their semi-final ties against Tanzania and Namibia respectively to book their place in the T20 World Cup qualifiers.
Konsi Oyeku led Uganda’s national team, which struggled during its match against Tanzania in the semi-finals. They were stuck at 5/3 in 5 overs after being put into bat.
Stephanie Nambina (51) and Rita Musamali (35*) lifted the team’s morale and pushed their team to 99/4 in difficult bowling conditions.
Chasing the goal, Tanzania looked comfortable, finding themselves 53/1 ahead in the 13th minute. All-rounder Janet Mbabazi broke up the partnership between Sum Mtai (35) and Monica Pascal (15).
She brought Pascal back with some help from Lorna Anyat in the field. Mbabazi then sent Mtai out and later claimed two more wickets to finish with figures of 3/14.
Musamali took three of the last four wickets, finishing the match with figures of 3/11 (3) to help Uganda to a 10-run win. For her match-winning performance, she was awarded Player of the Match.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, registered a comprehensive 86-run win over Namibia.
Each of Zimbabwe’s top four overs was taken over 20 runs, with wicket-keeper Modestre Mubachekwa’s 33 taking the team to 150/6.
In reply, Edel van Zyl was the only Namibian to pass 20, a Zimbabwe team bowling effort led by Precious Marange 3/9 (4), Nomvelo Sibanda (2/8 from three overs) and Josephine Nkomo (2/ 4 from three Overs ended Namibia’s misery as they bowled them out for 64.
In the final of the tournament, Zimbabwe continued to hound Uganda’s 79-run tally, with Marange winning by 5/7 (4), which saw a hat-trick, paving her way to claim the Player of the Year award in the final.
The African duo join Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, USA and Vanuatu in the ten-team global qualifiers, which will determine the final two places for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The T20 World Cup will be held in September and October in Bangladesh next year.
The hosts (Bangladesh), along with Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies have already been confirmed to participate in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024. (ANI)