Happy time: Kenya crowned ICC Division 2 Qualifiers champs following Botswana annihilation

Kenya made a stunning comeback to the ICC 2023 Women T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier – Division 1 tournament following an impressive nine wickets victory over hosts Botswana in Friday’s Division 2 Qualifiers final staged at the Botswana Cricket Association Oval One Stadium in Gaborone.

The win - which ensured the Kenyan ladies concluded their week-long tournament unbeaten - also had a sweet undertone, as it marked Kenya’s best performance in ICC T20I events, especially given that they were making a bounce back from what was a four year hiatus from the international scene.

“Very excited with our feat today,” team skipper Esther Wangare said post-game. “It has been an exciting tournament but speaks volumes of the kind of work we put in in this tournament. There was the fact that we came here knowing that we were massive favorites but still had to do the job. We believed and it all came to pass.”

Favorites they were in the final, as for the second time in six days playing against a familiar opponent, Kenya showed their class bowling act that had punctuated their plays through the tournament, to bowl out the hosts for just 52 runs.

Leading Kenya’s charge in the first innings ensuing a call by Botswana to bat first after winning the toss, was the game’s player of the match Flaviah Atieno, who poured in four wickets in 3.2 overs while only giving up ten runs.

Also continuing her charge towards being the tournament’s Most Valuable Player was Queentor Abel who racked three wickets of her own to add up to her impressive tally, with Melvin Khagoitsa andLavendah Idambo stacking up a single each.

“Really excited for this award,” a clearly delighted Atieno said while receiving her individual award post-game.

At the return of the second innings, the writing was on the wall for Botswana as the Lionesses openers; Abel and Daisy Wairimu extended their strong partnership to push up the scores to 35 runs inside the sixth over before the former was dismissed thanks to a perfectly bowled ball by Goabilwe Matome that hit the stumps.

Kenya cricket ladies through to World Cup Division 1 Qualifiers following impressive show in Gaborone

Her replacement - Mary Mwangi - was however not asked to do much as she added three runs in just six balls faced to Wairimu’s total of 26 not-out to secure the win; delivered by a quick two-runs in the first ball of the eighth over.

The win - celebrated in dance by both sets of players - ensured Kenya’s passage into the Division 1 Qualifiers set for 7-18 December in Entebbe, Uganda, where Kenya is set to battle top nations including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Rwanda for a spot in next year’s World Cup finals in Bangladesh.

At the same grounds earlier in the day, beaten semifinalists Sierra Leone secured a seven wickets victory over Cameroon to finish third.

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Cameroon won the toss and elected to bat, but only made 68 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Sierra Leone, led by Zainab Kamara’s 35 runs not out, however iced the game with 72 runs in 9.5 overs.