Maqonda Ndlovu
Namibia’s senior women’s cricket team, the Capricorn Eagles, beat Rwanda by 11 runs in their final match of Group B of the final leg of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Entebbe, Uganda.
Rwanda, who desperately needed to win this match to keep their hopes of progressing to the semi-finals, won the toss, sent Namibia to bat, and managed to restrict the Eagles to a modest 102 runs for the loss of seven wickets (102/7) in 20 overs.
Top scorer Jurriene-Aarasta Diergaardt scored a quick-fire 22 runs off 22 balls as player of the match Mezerly Gorases starred with the ball, bat and gloves, chipping in with a solid 21 runs from 24 balls before claiming two wickets from three runs and conceding 18 runs.
In return, Namibia restricted Rwanda to 91/8 in 20 overs.
Gorases and Naomi Benjamin took two wickets each, while Irene van Zyl, Kayleen-Ann Green, and Sylvia Shihepo each took a wicket to make sure that Namibia’s hopes of playing in the semi-finals are alive, depending on the result of the match between Uganda and Nigeria, which kicked off late yesterday.
Captain Van Zyl said she was relieved that Namibia had beaten Rwanda, as their progression to the next round depended on the victory.
“We had a long chat, as a group, following our defeat to Uganda, and I am glad that the result of that chat showed in the field today. The win was crucial.
We were aiming to put up 110 runs because we knew that our bowling and fielding could restrict them. We have done what we could; whatever happens next happens. I am positive we will play Zimbabwe in the semi-final,” she said.
Namibia will be hoping for the hosts to win the match, even though they have already qualified for the semi-finals, while a convincing victory for Nigeria will knock Namibia out.
Uganda currently tops Group B and would want to maintain that status to avoid playing tournament favourites Zimbabwe, who won Group A.
The winners of Group B will play Tanzania, who are the runners-up of Group A, in the semi-finals scheduled for tomorrow.
The third- and fourth-place playoffs and the finals are scheduled for Sunday.
With the defeat to Namibia, Rwanda finishes bottom of Group B, gets relegated to Africa Division 2, and will have to make their way into the top six of African Women’s Cricket.