Kenya's cricket team one match away from World Cup qualification after improbable comeback

Kenya's men’s national cricket team pulled off a remarkable victory against Nigeria on Tuesday, 30 September, to sneak into the semifinals of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

Virtually headed for the exits, Joseph Angara’s men turned around what looked like a disappointing elimination in the group stages to a place in the last four, just by the skin of their teeth.

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Following back-to-back losses to Namibia and Malawi days earlier, the writing was seemingly on the wall for Kenya going into their final knockings of Group A, as progression to the semifinals was not entirely in their hands.

Sitting bottom of the group at the beginning of the day, Kenya needed a big win over Nigeria, coupled with a loss to then second-placed Malawi, who were playing leaders Namibia, to revive their chances of making it through to a second T20 World Cup.

T20 WCQ: Kenya's hopes hanging on thread after surprise Malawi defeat

The prospect, based on Namibia’s place in the semis already secure and Kenya’s poor show in Harare, meant its chances of success were minimal, but for drama to unfold in the evening session.

One box for Kenya was quickly ticked at Harare Sports Club as Namibia made light work of lowly Malawi, winning by eight wickets after the latter had been dismissed for a paltry 71 in 16.2 overs.

What that meant for Kenya, who had given up a first innings total of 147 to Nigeria at Takashinga Cricket Club, was that they needed to pull off the run-chase in at least 14.3 overs, to finish in the automatic top-two bracket by Net Run Rate (NRR).

The early signs were not promising from a Kenyan perspective after opener Dhiren Gondaria was dismissed with the 10th ball of the inning.

With his partner Pushkar Sharma going out in the fourth over, the signs were ominous, only for evergreen skipper Rakep Patel and Sachin Bhudia to turn around fortunes with an incredible partnership that saw both men hit half-centuries.

Rakep, coming in as number three, hit five fours and two sixes in his 38-ball 53, as Bhudia, who was briefly joined by Jasraj Kundi, scored the final seven runs of his 57 to complete the dramatic turnaround in … 13.4 overs.

From the brink of elimination, Kenya had mustered a tremendous comeback, and will have just a day to get ready for a more herculean effort against hosts Zimbabwe for a place in a global showpiece that at one point looked like a distant dream.