By Oscar Pilipili And Agencies

Kenyan women hopes of  participating in 2014 ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup got a dent after they went down to South Africa in Dar-es-Salaam.

The team saw its dreams for s trip to the World Cup finals  diminish after the team went down by humiliating 82 runs against South Africa in ongoing qualifying round inTanzania.

Kenya’s position has been complicated by the fact that they drew their opening match against Namibia when the match was cancelled due to rains.

Their bid to recover the following day failed after they lost to Uganda by four wickets in what was Christened “Migingo Derby” last Monday.

South Africa who has already earned automatic qualification to the World Cup did not take chances as they went all out to set a huge target of 132-4 in first innings of allotted 20 overs.

Kenya batting order struggled to beat the ceiling but they were restricted to meager 51-8 in second innings.

Best scorers in Kenyan side were Captain Emily Ruto who achieved 16 runs while Sharon Juma managed 12 to her credit.

Team Bowling

In Kenyan bowling, Ruth Mwihaki claimed three wickets in four overs while Belinda Maska bagged one.

The experienced South African who have already qualified by virtue of finishing sixth overall in the previous World Cup put on impressive show in batting achieving 21 partnership runs for the first wicket between Thandile Savanna and Nadine Avril.

Kenya claimed first wicket when Maska dismissed Avril off Pearlyne Omamo’s bowling at 1-9.

Kenya have slim chances of qualifying for the World Cup pending on how their remaining opponents Zimbabwe whom they play today and Tanzania perform in remaining matches.

Intercontinental Cup

Meanwhile, The latest round of Intercontinental Cup and WCL Championship fixtures has been announced by the ICC, with matches between UAE and Ireland, Afghanistan and Scotland, Kenya and Canada, and Namibia and Netherlands scheduled for March and April 2013.

Ireland are top of both tables and will take on UAE in Sharjah in the four-day Intercontinental Cup, followed by two 50-over WCL matches. A proposed Twenty20 match is also under consideration.

Scotland and Afghanistan, second and third respectively in the Intercontinental Cup standings, will also play in Sharjah at the start of March, with two T20 internationals set to precede the four-day and 50-over fixtures.

Scotland are also second in the WCL Championship, two points behind Ireland. The top two teams at the end of the competition will qualify automatically for the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

Netherlands, just a point behind Scotland in third, will travel to Windhoek in April for their round of matches against Namibia. Canada, who prop up the table in both competitions, are due to play Kenya in Dubai.