Zimbabwe Bounce Back With Settling Win Over Tanzania In ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier
Danladi, Useni’s heroics with the bat propelled Nigeria to 121 against Kenya
Experience of Ngoche takes East Africans home with a delivery to spare
Zimbabwe kickstarted their campaign with 9 wicket victory over Tanzania
WINDHOEK– Zimbabwe bounced back from their opening day defeat to Namibia with a victory over Tanzania by nine wickets on day two of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Windhoek.
Zimbabwe won the toss and bowled first, restricting Tanzania to just 96 for nine in their 20 overs. Richard Ngarava (three for 17) and Sikandar Raza (three for 10) were the pick of the bowlers, as Zimbabwe looked to get their campaign back on track.
Salum Ally’s late striking saw Tanzania nearly reach 100, as he spanked two sixes and a boundary in a spirited 24-n-out, batting at number 10. Zimbabwe will be annoyed at giving away 14 extras, but their general fielding and catching would have pleased them no end.
In their chase, the Zimbabwean top three all made starts. Innocent Kaia (21 from 18 balls) was the solitary wicket to fall, but Tadiwanashe Marumani (39 off 27 balls) and Sean Williams (36 off 19 balls) hurried home, clubbing ten boundaries between them.
Two of those were sixes smashed by the former, as they put on a hasty 62 for the unbroken second wicket. Zimbabwe sailed home with 56 balls to spare.
In the first match of the day, Kenya took on Nigeria at the United Cricket Club Ground. The East Africans continued the trend of winning the toss and bowling, as they looked to employ their spinners to good effect.
Isaac Danladi (46 not out) had ideas of his own, though, with two sixes and three boundaries giving Nigeria a chance. He was assisted by Prosper Useni, who blasted 37 from just 19 balls, with three sixes flying off his blade.
121 for seven was always going to require a wonderful bowling effort, and that is what Nigeria delivered. Peter Aho (two for 16) started strongly with the new ball, while Sylvester Okpe (one for 19) also kept the rate in check.
Kenya needed some late nerve from Shem Ngoche (23 from 11 balls) to lift them to the tightest of victories. Ngoche hit two sixes and a boundary, to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat, with just one delivery to spare.
Earlier, Rushab Patel (32 from 38 balls) had given them a solid start. But no one could have seen the capitulation from 54 for one to 95 for 6 before Ngoche’s big hitting saved Kenyan blushes.
Rwanda won the toss and opted to bowl first against Nigeria this morning at Wanderers. Hosts Namibia are in action this afternoon when they face Uganda at the same venue.
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Scores in brief:
Kenya v Nigeria:
Kenya won the toss and elected to bowl
Nigeria 121 for seven in 20 overs (I Danladi 46 not out, P USeni 37, V Patel two for 17)
Kenya 124 for six in 19.5 overs (R Patel 32, S Ngoche 23 not out, P Aho two for 16)
Kenya won by four wickets, with one ball to spare
Tanzania v Zimbabwe:
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bowl
Tanzania 96 for nine in 20 overs (S Ally 24 not out, S Raza three for 10, R Ngarava three for 10)
Zimbabwe 98 for one in 10.4. overs (T Marumani 39 not out, S Williams 36 not out)
Zimbabwe won by nine wickets, with 56 balls to spare
Points Table
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Points | NRR |
| Kenya | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0,529 |
| Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2,536 |
| Uganda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1,898 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0,865 |
| Nigeria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0,202 |
| Rwanda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0,850 |
| Tanzania | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2,933 |
