The inaugural edition of the men’s cricket competition at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, has witnessed a group stage filled with thrilling encounters.
After three action-packed days, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia have emerged as the four semifinal contenders.
Uganda enjoyed a flawless group stage campaign, securing commanding victories in all three matches to finish atop Group A.
Their journey began with a dominant 72-run win over Kenya, followed by a convincing 121-run triumph against Ghana.
The highlight came in a dramatic final group stage match against South Africa. Chasing a modest target of 96 runs, Uganda’s captain, Brian Masaba, displayed nerves of steel, smashing a six off the final ball to snatch a narrow 2-wicket victory.
Zimbabwe mirrored Uganda’s feat in Group B, registering three convincing wins. They kicked off their campaign with a high-scoring affair against Namibia, amassing a mammoth 195 runs before bowling them out for 359.
They then showcased their adaptability with a contrasting low-scoring win over Tanzania before comprehensively defeating Nigeria by 10 wickets in their final group stage encounter. Spinner Owen Mzondo starred with the ball, claiming three wickets for just 11 runs to dismantle the Nigerian batting lineup.
Meanwhile Kenya’s qualification for the semifinals hinged on a crucial victory by Uganda over South Africa. They then capitalized on this momentum with a dominant display against Ghana.
Chasing a below-par target of 112 runs, veteran batsman Collins Obuya stole the show with a blistering 30-ball knock of 68 runs, guiding his team to a comfortable 7-wicket victory within 12 overs.
Namibia’s qualification for the semifinals is a testament to their fighting spirit.
Having lost their opening two matches, they faced elimination on Match Day Three. However, a spirited bowling performance against Tanzania, spearheaded by Ben Shikongo’s two wickets, restricted them to a paltry 71 runs.
Namibia chased down the target with ease, securing a vital victory on Net Run Rate to pip Tanzania and Nigeria for the second semifinal spot in Group B.
With four strong teams remaining in contention, the stage is set for two exciting semifinals. Namibia will lock horns with Uganda on Saturday, while Zimbabwe takes on Kenya later today.
The winners will progress to the historic first-ever final of the African Games cricket competition.
