World Cup wait extends for T20 women’s Eagles

Cricket
The Capricorn Eagles did not live up to expectations on their tour to Uganda.
Andrew Poolman
  • 10 Months Ago
The Namibian ambitions of reaching the ICC T20 World Cup with its women’s team will have to wait a few years longer, after their elimination from the current qualifying race.

Hosts Uganda and Zimbabwe have secured the top-two finishes in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, confirming their spots in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Dubai 2024.

Uganda dug deep to outplay a determined Tanzania in their semi-final clash on Saturday, beating them by 10 runs with four balls to spare, while Zimbabwe clinched the sub-Saharan Africa semi-final derby against Namibia with a convincing 86-run victory.

Africa’s two finalists join eight other teams for the Global Qualifier which will determine which two teams will take on already-qualified Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh.

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier contenders will be Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, UAE, USA, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe (150/6) delivered when it mattered in their semi-final and restricted Namibia’s Capricorn Eagles to just 64 all out.

Mekelaye Mwatile (3/17 in 4 overs) bowled outstandingly, while Edelle van Zyl hit two sixes and one four in her top-scoring innings of 23 off 20 balls.

But it was not enough to stop Zimbabwe from overturning its recent run of disappointing losses against Namibia on the cricket field and re-establishing their traditionally higher ranking position.

Coach Francois van der Merwe’s side was due to contest the bronze final against Tanzania yesterday morning, but the match was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.

• On Friday the Eagles secured their place in the semi-final by beating Rwanda by 11 runs.

The Namibians (102/7) were however pushed uncomfortably close by Rwanda, who reached 91/7.

The player of the match was Namibia’s Mezerly Gorases, who scored 21 runs off 24 balls and took 2/18 in 3 overs when she was introduced as a spin bowler, despite being the starting wicketkeeper.