Cricket T20 World Cup qualifier: Kenya beat Sierra Leone to revive hopes

Batman Mary Ngoche of Starsfield Ladies makes a sweeping drive during the Women Hayer One Star Field Youth Cricket League match against Nakuru Pirates at Nairobi Gymkhana Club on Saturday, August 25, 2018. [Standard]

The Kenyan girls yesterday bounced back from their upsetting 39 runs loss to Namibia in their opening Group B match to beat Sierra Leone by 106 runs at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Fired up Ngoche led from the front hitting 13 boundaries for a total of 73 runs from 53 deliveries anchoring Kenya to victory.

Electing to bat first, they scored 170 for the loss of four wickets in their allotted overs setting a target of 171 for their opponents. Despite the opening pair of Silvia Kinyua (16) and Veronica Abuga (2) not lasting beyond the third over,  Ngoche’s introduction proved a game changer as the Kenyans took charge of the match.

Aminata Kamara bowled Abuga with the 16th ball putting Kenya’s score at 20 for the loss of one wicket paving way for experienced Ngoche. The second-wicket stand of Kinyua and Ngoche did not also last longer as Ann Marie Kamara got the former caught with the last ball of the seventh over. Coming in after Kinyua, Mary Mwangi failed the test of Adama Kamara who trapped leg before on a duck. 

Ngoche then formed a fourth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Sharon Juma which was more productive lasting for 11.4 overs and yielding 115 runs. After many failed attempts to dismiss Ngoche Aminata finally got it right getting her caught by the end of the 19th over with the score at 160 for four.  Juma 39 not out partnered with Vanessa Ooko adding ten runs in the last over. 

In Sierra Leone’s innings, Kenyans bowled economically to defend their score and seal the victory. 

Mercyline Ochieng was once again superb with the ball taking two wickets and conceded seven runs in four overs. Ochieng bowled Mabinty Sankoh for a duck and trapped Aminata (2) leg before. Esther Wachira dismissed Zainab Kamara (2) while Mwangi bowled captain Linda Bull with only one run to her name.

Ann Marie top-scored for Sierra Leone with 30 runs off 48 balls while Janet Kowa the only other Sierra Leone player to hit the double-digit scored 10. In Group A Nigeria regained their footing to beat Mozambique by eight wickets with nine balls remaining. Nigeria had lost their opening match by 37 runs to Rwanda. Kenya will play Uganda in their last group match tomorrow.