| * Skipper Etim grabs hattrick as Nigeria down Mozambique * Mayers stars again as Zimbabwe stroll to victory * Van Zyl’s four for 7 sets up win over Uganda |
Namibia and tournament hosts Zimbabwe have stamped their authority on the African Women’s T20 Qualifiers, with both teams unbeaten after two days of action.
Zimbabwe showed their class in easily negotiating Mozambique and Tanzania, winning the two matches by 163 runs and 92 runs respectively. Namibia by contrast overcame challenges from Kenya and Uganda, to take top spot in a tricky Group B with one round of matches to go.
With nine teams in the qualifier, no one looks close to toppling Zimbabwe in a Group A of five teams, as they enjoy a net run rate of +6.375. The Rwandans, with one win from one and a bye so far, look to be the hosts’ only threat.
Sharne Mayers has enjoyed a blistering start to her qualifying campaign with scores of 62 (45) and 65 (50), combining with opening partner Modester Mupachikwa in opening partnerships of 69 and 78. Mupachikwa with scores of 29 and 30 has ticked things over, allowing her teammates to push on in the latter stages.
With the ball it has been a multi-pronged assault. Despite taking 18 wickets across their two matches, no individual has taken more than Audrey Mazvishaya’s four. Incredibly, Mazvishaya averages four with the ball, going at 2.5 runs an over.
Irene van Zyl has spearheaded Namibia’s efforts in the field, with seven wickets and one of her team’s four run outs. Defending 117 and 115 to go two from two, it would take a major slip up to Sierra Leone that would deny them a spot in the final. If a shock does occur at the Takashinga Cricket Club, the winner of Uganda/Kenya would likely leapfrog Namibia on net run rate.
Scores in brief:
Group A
Zimbabwe v Tanzania
Zimbabwe 143 for four (S Mayers 65, M Mupachikwa 30)
Tanzania 51 for eight ( A Mushangwe two for 3, T Granger two for 6)
Zimbabwe won by 92 runs
Nigeria v Mozambique
Mozambique 93 for seven (C Magaia 38, B Etim 3 for 14)
Nigeria 94 for two (B Nwobodo 33 not out, S Agazuma 28 not out)
Nigeria won by eight wickets
Group B
Uganda v Namibia
Namibia 115 for six ( A van der Merwe 31, S Wittmann 25)
Uganda 101 for nine (S Nampiina 25, I van Zyl four for 7)
Namibia won by 14 runs
Kenya v Sierra Leone
Kenya 170 for four ( M Ngoche 73)
Sierra Leone 64 for seven
Kenya on by 106 runs
2019 ICC Women’s Qualifier Africa Tables
Group A
| Team | P | W | L | T | NR | Pts | NRR |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +6.375 |
| Rwanda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1.850 |
| Nigeria | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.288 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.384 |
| Tanzania | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.600 |
Group B
| Team | P | W | L | T | NR | Pts | NRR |
| Namibia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.325 |
| Uganda | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1.900 |
| Kenya | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1.675 |
| Sierra Leone | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.900 |
Images courtesy of ICC.
