ICC WT20Q: Kenya seek first tournament win against Tanzania after Zimbabwe humbling

Kenya women’s national cricket team will hope to rebound from their disastrous showing against Zimbabwe when they take on neighbors Tanzania in their second game of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Entebbe, Uganda.

In the tournament opener on Saturday at the Entebbe Cricket Oval, Kenya fell by 62 runs to test nation-side Zimbabwe, a result that saw them drop to third in Group A with a net run-rating of -3.1.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Kenya allowed 11 runs for the loss of nine wickets before collapsing with a meager 49 runs all out after 15.4 overs.

Kenya’s top run scorer, as per ICC Media stats, was extras, which accounted for 11 runs, while ninth batter Charity Muthoni was the only Lioness in double figures with 10 runs.

Led by Loreen Tshuma's impressive 3 for 14, Kenya was staring at a dismal 23 runs for the loss of 8 wickets inside nine overs, with openers Queentor Abel and Melvin Khagoitsa going out for just four runs.

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

Tanzania, on the other hand, secured a 10 wicket victory over Botswana in the later game, to top the group standings with two points, and with a better run-rate than Zimbabwe’s.

Opening batters Saum Godfrey Mtae (38*) and former captain Fatuma Omary Kibasu (25*) made a mockery of their 75 runs (all out after 19.2 overs) chase, sealing the emphatic victory with 58 balls remaining.

To secure passage to the Global Qualifiers, Kenya will need to finish among the top two sides in their pool, where they will meet those qualified from Group B for the semifinals and finals.

The finalists will be the only qualifiers out of the eight.

Francis Otieno’s side hold a decent record against Tanzania, to whom they surprisingly lost this year; a 101 run defeat in the 2023 Victoria Series on 20 April.

The other meetings last year saw Tanzania fall by two and seven wickets in the 2022 Quadrangular Tournament held in Nairobi.

The other game of the day will see Botswana face Zimbabwe at 1350 EAT.