Zimbabwe now automatically progress to Saturday’s final where they will meet the winner between Uganda and Kenya.
Zimbabwe topped the log at the end of the group stage of the 2018 ICC Women’s World T20, Africa Qualifier on Wednesday after a comfortable 59-run victory over Uganda.
Zimbabwe now automatically progress to Saturday’s final where they will meet the winner between second-placed Uganda and third-placed Kenya.
Zimbabwe’s batsmen were once again in fine form as they amassed 161/2 in their 20 overs.
Ashley Ndiraya and Modester Mupachikwa put on 44 runs for the opening wicket before Ndiraya was out for 12, but Zimbabwe’s star batsman Chipo Mugeri continued the onslaught with another great knock.
Mupachikwa was dismissed for 47 off 44 balls (7×4), while Mugeri raced to 56 not out off 37 balls (8×4) and Precious Marange was 28 not out off 17 balls as Zimbabwe reached a formidable 161/2 off their 20 overs.
Uganda’s top batsmen all reached double figures, but they regularly lost wickets and were never in the hunt.
Racheal Ntono and Immaculate Nakisuuyi each scored 12, Saidati Kemigasha 20, and Gertrude Candiru 26 but it was not enough as they could only muster 102 off their 20 overs.
Loreen Tshuma was Zimbabwe’s best bowler, taking two wickets for 20 runs.
Kenya books playoff spot
Earlier, Kenya beat Namibia by 18 runs to book a place in Friday’s playoff.
In a great match of fluctuating fortunes, Namibia had Kenya on the ropes at six wickets down for 35 runs, but Kenya staged a great recovery to post 117/9 off their 20 overs.
Namibia’s run chase was too slow as they were always behind the run rate and they eventually reached 99/8 to hand Kenya a comfortable victory.
After winning the toss Namibia elected to field and immediately put pressure on Kenya with some great bowling and fielding.
Captain Petro Enright dismissed Veronica Abuga (6) and Queentor Abel (7) in the same over, and when Sune Wittmann bowled Margaret Ngoche for one, Kenya were struggling at 19 for three wickets.
Namibia maintained the pressure with the wickets of Silvia Kinyua (6) and Mary Mwangi (4) and when Ruth Achando was brilliantly caught by Didi Foerster for 2, Kenya had slumped to 35 for six wickets midway through their innings.
Namibia however could not finish them off as Sarah Bhakita led a great Kenyan revival.
She was dropped by Foerster on 28 with the total on 79, and made Namibia pay with some big boundaries.
Wickets continued to tumble around her, but Bhakita stayed till the end, eventually scoring 61 not out off only 36 balls (10×4).
Petro Enright was Namibia’s best bowler, taking 3/14 off her four overs.
Namibia’s run chase started disastrously as Anneri van Schoor was caught for a golden duck off the bowling of Vanessa Ooko.
Yasmeen Khan joined Enright and gave Namibia hope with a second wicket partnership of 70 runs, but they couldn’t keep up with the asking run rate.
Khan was eventually dismissed for 36 off 50 balls (4×4), run out by a direct hit, and when Sune Wittmann (2) and Enright (32) followed shortly after, the advantage swung to Kenya.
Namibia’s middle order cracked under the pressure as they regularly lost wickets, before reaching 99 for eight wickets off their 20 overs, to hand Kenya a comfortable victory.
Sarah Bhakita (3/15) and Silvia Kinyua (3/10) were Kenya’s best bowlers.
Uganda and Kenya will now meet on Friday afternoon, while Namibia and Tanzania will playoff for fourth place at 10h00.
Points Table as of 14 September 2017
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