African Games: Malkia Strikers and Kenya men's cricket sides in key knockout matches

Kenya’s women volleyball and men’s cricket sides will on Thursday afternoon seek to plaster more smiles to the nation still reveling from impressive Wednesday performances when they take part in separate quarter and semi final duels at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana.

For Malkia Strikers, their aim will be to not only get closer to securing a three-peat, but maintaining their unbeaten status thus far in the competition.

The 2015 and 2019 champions have not dropped a set in Ghana, securing 3-0 wins over Seychelles, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Algeria to finish top of Pool B.

Their opponents at MUH Multipurpose Hall will be Gambia, who finished on the wrong end of Pool A by losing all their matches against Egypt, Ghana and Tunisia.

In addition, they are yet to win a set, a proposition that indicates that it could be plain sailing for the Kenyan side, who will be without team skipper Mercy Moim on compassionate grounds.

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The game will throw off at 1700 EAT, and will come after two other quarterfinals pitting Tunisia and DR Congo, and Algeria against Ghana.

The last quarters game will be between Egypt and Nigeria.

In the men’s side, Kenya’s Wafalme Stars kept their unbeaten run going Wednesday when they brushed aside Burkina Faso 3-0 (25-10,25-22,25-21) to book a place into Friday’s semifinals.

There, they are set to face defending champions Cameroon, who dismissed Chad 3-1.

In the other tie, hosts Ghana will take on Egypt.

Men’s cricket

Lameck Onyango’s side after a chastening loss to Uganda on the opening day of the competition have found a way to steady the ship and since then, recorded two big wins against South Africa - now University Sport South Africa (USSA) - and lately Ghana, who they beat by seven wickets to despite all odds, book a place in the last four.

On the back of Collins Obuya’s 68 runs and three wickets each for skipper Rakep Patel and Aarnav Patel, Kenya - who lost the toss and fielded first against Ghana - still had to place their hopes on a Uganda win, which they duly delivered in the concurrent final group fixture, leaving it late to see of USSA by two wickets.

Up ahead for Kenya at Achimota Senior Secondary School A Field will be Zimbabwe at 1650 EAT, winners of all their games in Pool B.

In the other semifinal, Uganda will take on Namibia in a super clash at the same ground from noon.