In the opening match of the ICC Africa Cricket World Cup qiualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia, Uganda comprehensively thrashed newly promoted Nigeria.
Nigeria were bowled out for a disappointing 67, with Uganda’s destroyer in chief being Faruk Ochimi who took 4 for 25 in 6 overs.
Uganda didn’t have it all their own way, losing wickets along the way, but they managed to pass their target in the 16th over and eventually beat Nigeria by 3 wickets.
Hosts Namibia played neighbors Botswana at the United Cricket Ground. Namibia posted a very respectable 263 in their 50 overs. Top scorer was Christopher Coombie (48) who was ably supported by Bredell Wessels (46).
Botswana began their pursuit in superb fashion and were 60 without loss after 10 overs. A middle order collapse however saw them faltering to 167 for 8, before a rear guard action took them to a competitive 235/9 off their 50 overs.
Rear guard action saw them through to a competitive 235 for 9 after their 50 overs, but this was not enough as Namibia won by 27 runs. The top scorer for Botswana was opening batsman Varun Vigayakumar who scored 76 off 115 balls.
Johan Rudolph, the Namibian team's coach, was happy with the result.
"We are very happy with the way the boys played. We were a bit shaky in the start and then the middle order collapsed," Rudolph said.
In their next match, Namibia will play Zambia on Monday.
"We don't know much about Zambia. So we will just go in to the match as we did today against Botswana and hope for the best," Rudolph said.
The match between Kenya and Zambia saw Irfan Karim become the first centurion of the tournament with a 106 runs off 131 balls. Kenya posted a formidable 223 off their 50 overs. The pick of Zambia’s bowlers was Himal Patal with 5 for 29 in his 10 overs.
The Zambian batting never got off to a consistent start with a regular loss of wickets and they were eventually bowled out for a 155 runs. Kenya were eventual victors by 94 runs.
At the WAP grounds, Sierra Leone beat Tanzania by four wickets. Tanzania elected to bat and were restricted to 133 all out in the 43rd over. Sierra Leone set about their run chase aggressively and passed the target set in the 33rd over to comfortably win the match by four wickets.
Scores:
Nigeria 66/10
Uganda 68/7
Uganda won by 3 wickets
Namibia 263/8
Botswana 235/9
Namibia won by 27 runs
Kenya 223/8
Zambia 155/10
Kenya won 94 runs
Tanzania 133/10
Sierra Leone 136/6
Sierra Leone won by 4 wickets