Total Dominance. Hosts Tanzania Conquer as Malawi Joins the Party in Dar’s ICC Africa QualifierA
by - Innocent Ndawula
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier A, held in the stunning coastal city of Dar es Salaam, was nothing short of spectacular. With the sunny Tanzanian shores as the backdrop, top-ranked nations Tanzania and Malawi made it clear from the start that they meant business—leaving no room for surprises or doubts. As the hosts and Malawi dominated every encounter, they marched through the competition to claim their deserved spots in the Africa Finals scheduled for next March.
Tanzania: Home Pride, Precision, and Power
Led by Abhik Ramesh Patwa, Tanzania was unstoppable,
starting with a crushing 10-wicket victory over Mali, where their bowlers tore through the opposition like a
well-oiled machine. Sanjaykumar Thakor’s remarkable 4-4 set the tone for a tournament filled with thrilling bowling
performances. Game after game, the Tanzanian bowlers were ruthless, and their batsmen followed suit, ensuring smooth
chases and massive net run rates.
Tanzania’s dominance was particularly evident when they annihilated Lesotho, posting 183/7 and winning by 122 runs, thanks to contributions from Mohamed Omary Kitunda and Amal Rajeevan. In another standout moment, they bowled out Cameroon for just 37 runs and chased the target in only 3 overs. The tournament wasn't just about on-field action for Tanzania; they also delivered extravagant opening and closing ceremonies and generously provided Mali with cricket equipment, courtesy of Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Chairman Dr. B.S. Sreekumar.
Malawi: The Silent Assassins
While Tanzania’s dominance was loud and clear, Malawi's approach was
efficient and deadly. Led by Moazzam Ali Baig, Malawi outplayed every opponent they faced. In their opening match,
they defeated Lesotho by 93 runs, thanks to Sami Mohammad Sohail’s fiery 64 off 46 balls. They backed it up with
another solid all-round performance against Ghana in a tight contest. Baig’s captaincy and brilliance with the ball
(5-4 against Cameroon) ensured Malawi’s smooth path to qualification.
Their only setback came in the final, where
they lost to the hosts by 19 runs in a thrilling match. Neither side had full control of the game until Malawi’s
batters buckled under immense pressure.
Ghana: Struggles and Near Misses
Despite showing promise, Ghana couldn’t quite find their
footing. They had moments of brilliance, such as a 50-run victory over Lesotho and a clinical win against Cameroon,
but Tanzania’s well-rounded side exposed their weaknesses. Led by Obed Harvey, Ghana’s bowling was potent, but their
batting failed in crucial moments, particularly when they collapsed for 25 runs in a must-win game against Malawi.
They also suffered a massive 7-wicket loss to eventual champions Tanzania.
The Black Stars' consolation came in the form of Obed Harvey, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP), scoring 79 runs and taking 13 wickets, earning 437 points. We haven’t seen the last of Ghana, they seem to be on a true revival with a squad mixed with the tried and tested and new crop.
Cameroon and Lesotho: A Battle of Pride
For Cameroon and Lesotho, it was more about pride than qualification. Cameroon’s best effort came in a low-scoring thriller when they beat Mali, but otherwise, they were outclassed by stronger teams. Led by Faustin Junior Mpegna, Cameroon ended their campaign on a high, defeating Lesotho by 9 wickets in a morale-boosting win.
Lesotho, while showing grit, struggled under pressure from more experienced sides like Tanzania and Malawi. Their only win came against an out-of-sorts Mali as their captain Maaz Khan found his hitting range.
Mali: A Steep Learning Curve
Mali, still grappling with the fact of being new to the international stage, endured a tough tournament but gained valuable experience. Bowled out for under 50 in several games, the Malians displayed resilience and heart.
Their captain, Yacoub Konate, wore a brave face and acknowledged that they are a work in progress, keen to learn as much as possible. Tanzania’s generosity in providing them with cricket equipment will aid their development as they grow the sport back home.
A Peek into the Future
ICC Africa’s Interim Development Manager, Justine Ligyalingi, provided a glimpse of an exciting future for Associate nations. He highlighted how tournaments like these are just the beginning of a busy calendar leading up to the U-19 World Cup and the road to the 2026 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India. For Tanzania and Malawi, this tournament was a crucial first step toward realizing their dreams.
The focus now shifts to Nairobi, which will host the second qualifier from October 19-24, featuring Kenya, Gambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, and pre-event favorites Zimbabwe. The final qualifier will be held in Nigeria from November 23-28, with Botswana, Eswatini, Ivory Coast, Saint Helena, Sierra Leone, and the hosts, Nigeria, as the main contenders.
For now, Dar es Salaam has witnessed pure cricketing magic, with Tanzania and Malawi leading the charge as they prepare to join Uganda and Namibia in the Africa Finals.
DAY BY DAY MATCH RESULTS
Matchday 1 – September 21, 2024
Tanzania vs Mali (Tanzania won by 10 wickets)
Mali: 18 all out (12.5 overs)
Tanzania: 19/0 (0.5 overs)
Malawi vs Lesotho (Malawi won by 93 runs.)
Malawi: 145/4 (20 overs)
Lesotho: 52 all out (14.5 overs)
Ghana vs Cameroon (Ghana won by 8 wickets)
Cameroon: 40 all out (14.2 overs)
Ghana: 41/2 (8.1 overs)
Matchday 2 – September 22, 2024
Tanzania vs Lesotho (Tanzania won by 122 runs)
Tanzania: 183/7 (20 overs)
Lesotho: 61/9 (14.5 overs)
Malawi vs Ghana (Malawi won by 25 runs)
Malawi: 113/5 (20 overs)
Ghana: 88 all out (19 overs)
Mali vs Cameroon (Cameroon won by 6 wickets.)
Mali: 57 all out (16.4 overs)
Cameroon: 58/4 (8.5 overs)
Matchday 3 – September 24, 2024
Ghana vs Lesotho (Ghana won by 50 runs)
Ghana: 133/3 (20 overs)
Lesotho: 83 all out (20 overs)
Malawi vs Mali (Malawi won by 9 wickets)
Mali: 43 all out (17 overs)
Malawi: 44/1 (3.1 overs)
Tanzania vs Cameroon (Tanzania won by 9 wickets.)
Cameroon: 37 all out (12.1 overs)
Tanzania: 38/1 (3 overs)
Matchday 4 – September 25, 2024
Ghana vs Tanzania (Tanzania won by 7 wickets.)
Ghana: 84/9 (20 overs)
Tanzania: 88/3 (13.4 overs)
Cameroon vs Malawi ( Malawi won by 9
wickets.)
Cameroon: 30 all out (8.5 overs)
Malawi: 31/1 (2.5 overs)
Lesotho vs Mali (Lesotho won by 112 runs)
Lesotho: 148 all out (19.5 overs)
Mali: 36 all out (9.4 overs)
Matchday 5 - Dar es Salaam, September 26, 2024
Cameroon vs Lesotho (Cameroon won by 9 wickets. )
Lesotho: 47/10 (10 overs)
Cameroon: 48/1 (8 overs)
Mali vs Ghana (Ghana won by 10 wickets.)
Mali: 24/10 (10.3 overs)
Ghana: 27/0 (2.2 overs)
Tanzania vs Malawi (Tanzania won by 19 runs. )
Tanzania: 119/10 (19.4 overs)
Malawi: 100/10 (20 overs)
FINAL POINTS TABLE
| TEAM | M | W | L | N/R | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Tanzania (Q) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4.7739 |
| 2. Malawi (Q) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3.2406 |
| 3. Ghana | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1.5755 |
| 4. Cameroon | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -1.1907 |
| 5. Lesotho | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | -2.2832 |
| 6. Mali | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -6.6371 |
Q denotes Qualified For Africa Finals
INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS
Player of the Tournament:
Obed Harvey (Ghana) – 13 wickets & 79 runs = 431 points
Best Batsman:
Sami Sohail (Malawi) - 137 runs
Best Bowler:
Suhail Zahid Vayani (Malawi) - 13 wickets
Best Wicketkeeper:
Philip Zuze (Malawi) - 10 dismissals
TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Total Matches: 15
Total Players: 84
Total Runs Scored: 2,035
Total Wickets Taken: 200
Total Balls Bowled: 2,346
Batting Highlights
Total Boundaries: 146 (4s: 146, 6s: 25)
Notable Milestones:
Half-centuries: 3 fifties scored
25s: 13
Highest Individual Score: Sami Muhammad Sohail (Malawi) scored 64 runs.
Team with Highest Score: Tanzania scored 183/7 in their innings.
Team with Lowest Score: Mali were bowled out for 18.
Bowling Highlights
Best Bowling Figures: Waseem Yaqoob (Lesotho) took 6 wickets for 18 runs.
4-wicket hauls: 2 bowlers achieved this feat.
5-wicket hauls: 2 bowlers took 5 wickets in a match.
Hat-tricks: 2
Economical Performances:
Maidens: 23 maidens bowled throughout the tournament.
Wides: 171 wides were bowled, affecting teams' bowling economy.
No Balls: 11 no balls were recorded.
Fielding Highlights
Catches: A total of 66 catches were taken.
Run Outs: Fielders contributed to 15 run-outs.
Notable Team Performances:
Highest Team Total: 183/7 by Tanzania.
Lowest Team Total: 18/10 by Mali.