Rwanda received a walkover victory against Gambia due to the latter’s absence, earning full points in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B. Kenya defeated Mozambique by 111 runs, with Rakep Patel’s remarkable performance, while Zimbabwe won against Seychelles by 76 runs with an impressive batting display. The tournament continues to position these teams for potential advancement to further stages.
Rwanda was granted full match points from their inaugural contest against Gambia, as the Gambian team failed to arrive on time for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B held in Nairobi. Originally scheduled to commence at 9:30 AM on Saturday, October 19, the Gambians’ absence at Gymkhana Club led the umpire to award the victory to Rwanda, resulting in the allocation of two points to the Rwandan side. Rwanda is set to face Seychelles at Ruaraka Sports Club next. Meanwhile, the host nation, Kenya, triumphed dramatically over Mozambique, with Rakep Patel earning the man-of-the-match honor for his outstanding 120 runs from 55 balls, guiding his team to a 111-run victory (DLS method) in their opening qualifier. Despite a quick loss of two wickets, Patel’s composed performance established a formidable target of 224 runs, supported by contributions from Sachin Bhudia and Dhiren Gondaria. In the bowling department, Kenya’s captain, Shem Ngoche, excelled with figures of 3-16, restricting Mozambique to a mere 76 runs in a rain-curtailed 16 overs. This victory marked Kenya’s first points in the tournament, placing them second on the six-team leaderboard, trailing behind Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe commenced their campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifier B with a decisive 76-run victory (DLS method) over Seychelles. They showcased their batting prowess with an impressive total of 286/5 in 20 overs, featuring brilliant performances from Brian Bennett, who amassed 91 runs from 35 balls, and Tadiwanashe Marumani, who contributed 86 runs from 37 balls. The struggles of Seychelles’ bowlers were evident, with Jobayer Hossen achieving 2/36 amidst a barrage of runs. Following a rapid decline into trouble at 18/2 post-rain delay, Seychelles’ chase faltered under the control of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, particularly Richard Ngarava, leading to a comfortable win for Zimbabwe as per the DLS method. This strong performance positions Zimbabwe favorably in their qualification quest, while Seychelles will need to reassess as they prepare for their next match.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B is a prestigious cricket tournament, serving as a qualifying event for the global T20 men’s championship. This competition features teams from various African nations striving for advancement. Rwanda, Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe are participating in this edition. Each match plays a critical role in determining the teams that will progress to the next stages of qualification. The format includes round-robin matches with points awarded based on match outcomes, contributing to the overall standings and the potential for qualification.
In summary, the opening fixtures of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B have highlighted notable performances and critical match outcomes. Rwanda secured a walkover victory against Gambia due to their failure to appear, while hosts Kenya and Zimbabwe showcased strong cricketing prowess to secure convincing victories over Mozambique and Seychelles, respectively. These results will undoubtedly influence the standings as teams aim for qualification.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
