Capricorn Eagles eye knock-out stages 

Namibia’s Capricorn Eagles are well-placed to reach the semifinals of the  ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier ahead of their final group match against Sierra Leone today. 

Despite losing by 32 runs to Zimbabwe in their opening match on Sunday, Namibia bounced back with a thorough eight-wicket victory against Nigeria to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the competition. 

Namibia, however, still trail Nigeria on the log in Group A, but things are bound to change after today’s final round of group matches. 

Zimbabwe, who won both their opening two matches lead the log on four points, followed by Nigeria on two and a +1.037 nett run rate, while Namibia are right behind them on two points and a nett run rate of +0.690.

Namibia, however, take on Sierra Leone today, who are bottom of the log after losing their opening two matches, while Nigeria take on log leaders Zimbabwe, and all indications are that Namibia will pip Nigeria to second spot on the log and a place in the semifinals. 

Still, anything can happen in cricket and Namibia will have to lift their game if they hope to go further in the tournament. 

In their opening match, Zimbabwe scored a competitive 133 for five wickets off their 20 overs, while Namibia could only reach 101/8 in reply.

Namibia’s bowlers, however, let them down with some wayward deliveries as they conceded 13 wides and three no balls, which made their task much more difficult. 

Zimbabwe got off to a solid start with Chiedza Dhururu and Kellies Ndhlovu putting on 35 for the first wicket before Namibian captain Sune Wittmann got the breakthrough, bowling Ndhlovu for 23.

Eveleen Kejarukua dismissed Dhururu for 18, and when Loreen Tshuima (9) and Nyasha Gwanzuru (0) were dismissed off successive balls, Namibia were right back in the game with Zimbabwe at 75/4 off 12,3 overs. 

Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, however, came to Zimbabwe’s rescue with a captain’s knock of 39 not out off 31 balls (4×4), while Beloved Biza added 22, as they set Namibia a tough target. 

Wittmann was Namibia’s best bowler, taking 2/11 at a tight economy rate of 2,75, while Kejarukua was also tidy with 1/15 at an economy rate of 3,75, but the rest of the bowlers were wasteful.

In reply, Namibia got off to a solid start, and although they lost regular wickets, they were still on track to reach the target. Their batting, however, was too slow, as the required run rate started to climb and in the end they fell well short of the victory target.

Namibia’s top batters were Wittmann with 23 runs, Yasmeen Khan with 21 and Wilka Mwatile with 24 not out off 14 balls at the end of the innings. 

Against Nigeria, Namibia got off to a great start with two quick wickets by Saima Tuhadeleni, and despite a brief Nigerian revival, Meke Mwatile got two wickets in three balls, while a run out by Yasmeen Khan reduced Nigeria to 40/5 midway through their innings. They couldnt recover and were all out for 70 runs. 

Tuhadeleni led thew way with three wickets for 13 runs, while Mwatile took 2/16 and Kayleen Green 2/10. 

Tanzania, meanwhile, lead Group B on four points, after winning their opening two matches, which included a thrilling one-run victory against Uganda, who are now second on two points and a nett run rate of +0.591. Rwanda are just behind on two points with a nett run rate of -0.359, while Kenya are bottom of the log on zero points. 

In the final group matches today, Tanzania take on Rwanda while Uganda take on Kenya. 

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