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Eyes
On Africa : A Special Feature by Hemant Sharma
from Lusaka, Zambia |
NAMIBIA and
UGANDA secure their
places from Africa for the 2005 Mini World Cup
in Ireland, as ZAMBIA
qualify for Malaysia Playoffs.
Namibian skipper Deon Kotze poses with the WCQS
Winner's Trophy at the Presentation ceremony at
Hotel Intercontinental, Lusaka
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FINAL POINTS TABLE |
| Rank |
TEAM |
P |
W |
L |
T |
Points |
|
1 |
Namibia |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
|
2 |
Uganda |
5 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
3 |
Zambia |
5 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
|
4 |
Botswana |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
|
5 |
Nigeria |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
|
6 |
Tanzania |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
Day by Day results : Day1,
Day2, Day3,
Day 4, Day5
MATCH BY MATCH SYNOPSIS
| DAY
5. (August 7th) |
Namibia Vs Uganda
Uganda 125 all out
Namibia 126/3 |
Namibian finishes
Unbeaten, Uganda come second.
What was tipped as the clash of the two best
sides in the week long event could not
deliver the much expected competitiveness.
Namibia who was the favorite team from the
onset of this tournament didn't allow the
highly impressive Uganda team any chance to
displace them from their reign. Namibia
ended the Ugandan challenge when the central
Africans were bundled for just 125. The
anticipation and expectations of the people
to witness a close match between the two
best teams of the tournament so far didn't
last long. And as a habit of this ruthless
Namibian side, this game too ended before
the full 100 overs were bowled in the day.
Namibia gathering full 25 points from their
5 games ended with rank 1. Although the
result of this game would have had no impact
on the qualifications, but the Uganda team
was hoping to overcome the mighty
south-western Africans and win more than
just respect. Playing the game in the best
of spirits, these two teams have earned
their right now to represent Africa in the
2005 Ireland Mini World Cup.
TOP |
Tanzania Vs Zambia
Tanzania 202
Zambia 178 all out(46 ovs) |
Tanzania upsets an
Un-motivated Zambia.
The talks of a Tanzania-Zambia Grudge match
failed to motivate an already-qualified home
team to play their final game with vigour.
Tanzania, whose brave decision to send a
development side for the event eventually
won more than just accolades and praises
when they bruised the home team who ended
the event with just 2 wins and 3 losses.
Tanzania who had crossed the 100 run mark
only once in the last 4 games was looking
set to another sub-100 total when they found
themselves reeling at 46-5 at one stage. But
lack of commitment on behalf of the Zambian
bowlers and some smart Tanzanian young
brains managed to post a total of 202 for
the first time. Zambia who clearly looked
like they were not playing to win, made a
good start while chasing with a first wicket
stand of 50. But again, a middle order
collapse invited the young Tanzanians to
crawl back into the game and some careless
strokeplay by the late middle order ensured
that the Tanzanians didn't leave Zambia
"point-less". Cited by ICC RDM Hoosain Ayob
as the best game, Zambia really needs to
learn from its mistakes and needs to
remember that Cricket is played and fought
to win. There were some great shots in the
end by Zambia, but unfortunately they had
just 10 wickets to play with, like every
other team. Young Tanzania went home with
lots of pride and cricketing lessons. This
tournament will pave way for a bright future
for them. TOP |
Botswana Vs Nigeria
Botswana 270
Nigeria 247 all out |
Botswana edge
Nigeria in a high scoring fiesta.
Centrals Cricket Club seemed to be the sole
witness of the highest run scoring game of
the week. With virtually no crowd attendance
due to the anticipation and interest in the
other on-going games this High scoring game
faded into oblivion. A win in this game for
either of the teams couldn't have ensured
them any qualification, but it was still
played with full passion. A total of 517
runs and a victory margin of just 23, this
game provided all the nail biting
entertainment that it is conceivable.
Botswana in the end had the better of things
and would rue the fact that they will not be
able to go to the Malaysia Playoffs due to
the narrow loss to host Zambia. Both
Botswana and Zambia are on 10 points but
since Zambia beat them on the 1st day in a
close game, Botswana have to return home.
Nigeria too wouldn't have made it had they
beaten Botswana as they too had lost to
Zambia. TOP |
Day by Day results : Day1,
Day2, Day3,
Day 4, Day5,
TOP
| DAY 4. (August
6th) |
Namibia Vs Botswana
Namibia 252/3
Botswana 64 all out(34 ovs) |
Namibian dominance continues,
Botswana bows down.
Jan Berry Berger finished off what he
couldn't do in the last game. He missed the
honour of being the first centurion of the
tournament on Wednesday against Zambia, but
today he was determined to repeat his
efforts and it paid off against a
low-in-confidence Botswana. He scored 102
before being Run Out. The story of the match
continues to be similar like the previous
Namibian games, Namibia put on a total of
252 for 3 wickets at the Lotus club and they
crumbled the opposition batting line up
before they could realize what hit them.
Agile and fearless bowling and fielding did
not let the Botswana team to have any remote
chances of creating an upset. The habit of
early finishes continued as Botswana was
sent home packing in the 34th over with the
team score of 64 only. Namibia plays Uganda
tomorrow on the last day of the tournament.
Both Namibia and Uganda have remained
undefeated so far in the event and
tomorrow's game will prove which team out of
them will have the honours to be called the
best African associate cricket team.
TOP |
Uganda Vs Zambia
Zambia 125 all out
Uganda 126/5 (34 ovs) |
Zambian batting fails again,
Uganda continues to impress.
If 6 ducks in the previous game wasn't
enough to ruin their chances of qualifying
for the Mini World cup, Zambia opted to have
5 more ducks today against the motivated
Ugandans. If half of your batting line up
goes scoreless, then it is urgently required
to be reminded that cricket is a team game
of 11. A target of 126 in 50 overs is more
of a formality rather than a challenge, and
the Ugandans overcame this without too much
trouble. The home team bowlers did try to
keep the morale of the optimistic home crowd
up by some periodic spicy bowling but the
Uganda boys showed character and
determination which is why they have
remained undefeated right through the last 4
days. Uganda now qualifies for Ireland along
with Namibia while Zambia had some relief
when it was known that they still have a
chance to make it to Ireland as they have to
play the Playoffs in Malaysia now. Uganda
plays Namibia tomorrow to determine who is
the better of the two undefeated teams.
While Zambia should take tomorrow's match
against neighbouring Tanzania as an
important practice game even as the results
will not affect their qualification for
Malaysia. TOP |
Tanzania Vs Nigeria
Nigeria 160 all out
Tanzania 63 all out |
Perpetual Tanzanian defeats
break Nigerian losing streak.
LSCC today witnessed the battle of the
minnows. Both Nigeria and Tanzania went out
to play today in hope of breaking their
respective losing streaks, but it was
Nigeria who eventually got the better of
Tanzania by 97 runs. Playing first Nigeria
themselves were in a spot of worry as they
managed a total of only 160 in their 50
overs. Tanzania who had only crossed the 100
run mark once in this tournament
incidentally made 161 against Botswana in
their previous game must have believed that
they could repeat the scores and win this
time. But their disappointments continued as
one batsman after the other followed back to
the pavilion thus scoring another sub-100
total of 63 only. Tanzania plays Zambia
tomorrow and have nothing but pride at stake
while Zambia has already qualified for
Malaysian playoffs. Nigeria plays Botswana
tomorrow, both of them are on equal points.
TOP |
Day by Day results : Day1,
Day2, Day3,
Day 4, Day5,
TOP
| DAY 3. (August
4th) |
Namibia Vs Zambia
Namibia 237/5
Zambia 101 all out(32 ovs) |
Zambia crashes as Namibia cruise
on.
The winning spree of the enthusiastic home
team came to a screeching halt as the
Namibian team thrashed Zambia by the biggest
margin seen in the tournament so far. Led by
an almost flawless 97 by Jan Berry Berger,
Namibians put on a total of 237 for 5
wickets at the LSCC grounds. Poor catching
and fielding display by the Zambians taught
more than a few lessons to the home team and
administrators that a World Cup appearance
is a distant dream if things dont improve in
the future. Tournament favorite Namibia
outclassed and outplayed Zambia and the
experience they gained from participating in
the 2003 World Cup clearly outweighs them to
every other team in the tournament. Batting,
which is considered Zambia's main strength
failed to make any impression as six of
their batsmen went without troubling the
scorers. A late mini resistance by the tail
enabled the hosts to cross the 100 run mark
and salvaging some statistical pride. Apart
from Uganda, the Namibians considered the
home team to be a challenge, but this
illusion quickly disappeared as suggested by
the victory margin of 136 runs highest in
the tournament. TOP |
Botswana Vs Tanzania
Botswana 235/9
Tanzania 161 all out |
Tanzania not good enough for
Botswana.
When Botswana stepped into the field today,
they looked very positive in their approach
and determination. Playing sensibly and with
skill, the Botswana batsmen who impressed a
lot in the close game against home team
Zambia scored 235 in the allotted 50 overs.
This certainly wasn't a winning total but a
fighting one. But the Tanzanian team hasn't
looked comfortable in the last 3 days. And
when the chase began, although the runs kept
coming, the wickets kept on falling.
Although it wasn't a close game but it was
the best batting score by the East Africans
in this tournament to date. Botswana who
might have felt that having no points
against their names was more due to hard
luck should look forward as they are not out
of contention yet. TOP |
Uganda Vs Nigeria
Uganda 240/8
Nigeria 118 all out |
Nigerian woes continue against
Uganda.
Centrals Cricket Club witnessed its first
game of the tournament in which Uganda
didn't find much trouble in beating the
disappointing Nigerian team. Batting first,
Uganda mustered up 240 for 8 in their 50
overs. The agile fielding of Nigeria is the
only thing that impresses if other
departments disappoint. While chasing the
target of 241, the West Africans did manage
to cross the 100 run mark for the first time
in this competition but their run chase
eventually ended on 118. With nothing going
their way, the only thing it seems bright
for Nigeria is that they have a game to play
against Tanzania tomorrow who are not in a
winning mood themselves. TOP |
Day by Day results : Day1,
Day2, Day3,
Day 4, Day5,
TOP
| DAY 2. (August
3rd) |
Zambia Vs Nigeria
Nigeria 97 all out
Zambia 100/8(25 ovs) |
Zambia stumble, but overpower
Nigeria in the end.
The second game for the host nation taught
everyone in the team to not to take anything
for granted. Cricket is known as a glorious
game of uncertainties and this was evident
in the picturesque Lotus club ground today
when Zambia stumbled while chasing the small
total of 96 put on by Nigeria. With nothing
to lose, the Nigerian balling attack showed
a spirited performance and the Zambian
batting displayed some carelessness. At the
12th over, Zambia was reeling on 46 for 6
and the spring in the step of the Nigerians
was exciting to watch. But in such small
totals one or two common sense innings are
all that is needed to take you through.
Under immense pressure, the late middle
order of Zambia ensured that the hosts make
the desired runs with 25 overs to spare and
2 wickets in hand. The Nigerians showed
character and went home with their heads
high as they didn't gift the points to
Zambia. A perfect example for learners that
in Cricket, like in life, Nothing can be
taken for granted. TOP |
Namibia Vs Tanzania
Tanzania 96 all out
Namibia 100/3(12 ovs) |
Namibia beat Tanzania in a
jiffy.
Whoever is willing to put their money on
Namibia for this tournament is playing it
safe. With many players with the experience
of the 2003 world cup, this Namibian team is
playing like hungry hunters. Yesterday they
sent Nigeria home early, today the
Tanzanians tasted some quick Namibian
hammering on the Metropolitan club ground.
Playing first, Tanzania could muster only 97
against the impressive south westerners. The
Namibians showed that they don't like to
delay matters specially when it comes to
winning. The required target was achieved in
12 overs with 7 wickets still safe in the
kitty. After finishing their job, the
Namibians chose to observe the
Zambia-Nigeria game hoping to pick some
clues for their next game against the hosts.
TOP |
Uganda Vs Botswana
Botswana 167 all out
Uganda 168/6(42 ovs) |
Uganda humble Botswana.
Lusaka South Cricket Club (LSCC) witnessed
Botswana being outplayed by the Central
Africans. Batting first the promising
Botswana team could only manage 167. The
highly spirited Ugandan team without much
pain or difficulty reached their target thus
denying the Botswana team to have any points
against their name. With this loss, the
Botswana team's progress to the WC
qualifiers is pretty much impossible as
their next match is scheduled against
favorites Namibia who haven't shown any sign
of weakness or complacency.
TOP |
Day by Day results : Day1,
Day2, Day3,
Day 4, Day5,
TOP
| DAY 1. (August
2nd) |
Zambia Vs Botswana
Zambia 238/9
Botswana 219 (49 ovs) |
Zambia beat Botswana in a nail
biter.
Batting first, Zambia scored a competitive
238 in their allotted 50 overs on a windy n
pleasantly warm sunny day at Metropolitan
Club. Botswana didn't allow the hosts to get
to a huge total by their accurate and agile
fielding display. The visitors in their
reply started with caution and didn't lose
wickets and looked set to win with wickets
in hand. But timely wickets and tight
bowling by the Zambians denied the Botswana
team what could so easily have been theirs.
The crowds gathered on the grounds got a
taste of the real excitement of cricket with
the outcome of the match not predictable
till the final wicket fell.
TOP |
Namibia Vs Nigeria
Nigeria 30 all out
Namibia 30/0 |
Namibian eagles pounce
Nigerians.
Before the sun could warm up Lusaka enough
on the National Farmers day, a sight of
plight was seen at the LSCC club when the
tournament favorites Namibia were given a
chance to prey upon the Nigerian cricket
team. By getting bundled out even without
getting the team total above 30, It was
Game, set and match Namibia within the first
few hours of the day. Those who were lazy in
getting up in the morning can now only hear
what others have to say about the brilliant
Namibian bowling and the paltry batting
display of the Nigerian team. After grabbing
a thumping victory, the Namibians chose to
visit the Metro club and spent their day
watching the entertaining Zambia-Botswana
game and getting a good idea of the
abilities and weaknesses of these teams
helpful for the next upcoming matches. Oh
did i forget to mention... that Namibia did
score the necessary 30 odd runs to complete
the win. TOP |
Uganda Vs Tanzania
Tanzania 69 all out
Uganda 70/2 |
Tanzania disappoints against
Uganda.
Strong Contenders Uganda overwhelmed a young
Tanzanian side at Lotus Club grounds.
Batting first, Tanzania struggled with some
brilliant balling display by the incisive
Ugandan attack and could only manage a small
disappointing total of 69. The Ugandans, in
reply took things easily and managed to
finish the match early and scored the
necessary 70 with 8 wickets to spare.
TOP |
Day by Day results : Day1,
Day2, Day3,
Day 4, Day5,
TOP
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