Kenyan juniors lose Africa title to Botswana

By Oscar Pilipili

Botswana beat Kenya by one wicket in the final match of the Africa Junior Girls Championships to be crowned new queens.

Kenya team who were the defending champions won the toss and opted to bat first and made 63 for five before Botswana reached the target with six balls to spare and one wicket in hand.

Kenya top batting order displayed poor form as they lost their first four wickets with 37 runs on the score board.

Kenya lost its first wicket when opener Daisy Wairimu was caught and bowled by Ankita Travedi with two runs to her name and scores on seven.

Kenya’s bid to build runs on second wicket failed as captain Quinta Aoko returned to the pavilion with 15 runs.

Hannah Ngina was the third to fall after she was caught behind for 1. With scores on 37 Ramafifi Mimmie struck by bowling out Jane Achieng’ on 3.

Jackline Atieno (3) and Barbara Ambiyo who top scored with 20 got the scores to 42 before Atieno was bowled out. However, Kenya got a reprieve in a stand of 21 runs between Ambiyo and Jackline Adhiambo, which got the scores to 63.

Botswana lost four wickets for 17 runs, but still had plenty to spare in chalking up a memorable victory after Kenya bowlers failed to bowl to the same line of the wicket. Batisani Olebogeng took advantage of Kenya’s bowling to thump 24 off 27 balls. Olebogeng got out with scores on 43 for 8.

At the time of her dismissal trapped lbw by Faith Kenya, she had already done the damage.

With four to win off three overs, Kenya bowlers failed to contain the South Africans as they bowled four wide balls.

However, Kenya had something to smile about as two of its players were voted the best players. Wairimu was voted the player of the tournament for her all-round performance while Aoko was declared best with the bat in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Stuart Broad has been sent for scan on his left heel and is a doubt for England’s two T20 matches against India, Cricinfo reports.

Broad suffered a recurrence of the heel injury that threatened his involvement in the first Test of the series.