The Baggy Blues of Botswana have qualified for the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) T20 Cup after winning the Southern Africa qualifiers held from May 27 to June 1.
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Under the stellar leadership of Karabo Motlhanka, Botswana went undefeated in the competition after winning all four matches to accumulate eight points at a net run rate of 3.731 in the tournament.
They walked away with the winners’ medals and trophies, which were awarded in absentia after opting for the long drive to Gaborone after their match against Mozambique.
Malawi were declared runners-up after winning three of their four matches.
Motlhanka won the player of the series award for his leadership and displays on the field, while Malawi’s Sami Sohail walked away with the best batsman and bowler gongs for his efficiency with both bat and ball.
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The final day of the competition on June 1 saw Botswana take on Mozambique in the earlier game while Eswatini faced Mauritius in the afternoon.
The Batswana brushed aside the Mozambicans by seven wickets with 41 balls to spare.
Despite losing opener Ameer Saiyed and Motlhanka, Vinoo Balakrishan (34) and Reginald Nehonde (34) guided their team to a resounding win inside 14 overs.
Mozambique was dismissed for 89/7 in their 20 overs, with only three batsmen, Captain Filipe Cossa (20), Vieira Tembo (16) and Francisco Couana (13), reaching double figures.
Botswana’s Katlo Piet was the peak of the bowlers with match figures of 2/13 while Boemo Khumalo ended with 2/20 in his four overs.
Eswatini grab first win
In the late game, Eswatini grabbed their first win of the competition after beating Mauritius by five wickets, reaching their target of 143 inside 15 overs.
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Captain and man-of-the-match Adil Butt smashed a quick-fire 55 off 22 before being stumped by keeper Manish Sharma off the bowling of Vineshbhai Patel in the final over of the bowling power-play.
Eswatini had lost the wicket of Butt’s opening partner, Muhammad Amin early in the innings but the big-hitting Tarun Sandeep (48 off 30) and Christiaan Forbes (32 off 22) continued the assault with a couple of boundaries to lead their team to their first win.
“Thanks to my team, they are always supporting me. This is for the people back home who are always behind us,” Butt said during the post-match presentation.
