Zimbabwe, Uganda secure global qualifier berths

The line up for the Women’s T20 Global Qualifier is complete, after Zimbabwe and Uganda secured the final two spots during the Africa Division One tournament in Uganda.

Eight hopeful teams started the competition in two groups of four, in a competitive and unpredictable field. Group A saw Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, and Botswana compete. Zimbabwe cruised through undefeated, winning comfortably in all three games. Tanzania followed in second place after beating Kenya and Botswana, before losing to Zimbabwe. Kenya managed only a consolation win to finish 3^rd in the group.

Group B saw hosts Uganda face Namibia, Rwanda, and Nigeria. Despite winning the Kwibuka tournament earlier in the year, beating Uganda and Nigeria in the process, Rwanda were unable to win any games and finished bottom of their group. Uganda went undefeated, with Namibia runners-up ahead of Nigeria.

This set up the semi-finals, with each winner advancing to the global qualifier. The first semi-final saw Zimbabwe play Namibia. Zimbabwe, batting first after losing the toss, raised an imposing total of 150/6 in their 20 overs, thanks to contributions from the whole top order. In reply, Precious Marange and Nomvelo Sibanda ran through the Namibian batting line up, bowling them out for only 64, and qualifying Zimbabwe for the Global Qualifier.

Hosts Uganda faced Tanzania in the second semi-final. Tanzania asked Uganda to bat first, and immediately found rewards, reducing the hosts to 5/3 in the first five overs. It took a rescue effort from Stephani Mampiina and Rita Musamali to give Uganda a respectable total of 99/4, with Mampiina’s 51 being the only fifty in a low-scoring tournament. In reply, Tanzania got themselves into a strong position, reaching 53/1 in the 13^th over. But the game soon swung in Uganda’s favour, as Tanzania collapsed from 67/2 to 75/7, first through two runs outs before Janet Mbabazi completed a three-wicket haul. Rita Musamali ran through the tail to bowl Tanzania out for 89, giving Uganda a 10-run win and a spot at next year’s qualifier.

The third-place play-off was washed out, before Zimbabwe won comfortably over Uganda in a ceremonial final, with both sides already secure of their qualification. The two sides will join Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, USA, Vanuatu, Thailand, and UAE at the global qualifier, which is set to be hosted by UAE in early 2024.

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