The cricket competition at the 13th African Games reaches its climax today as undefeated Zimbabwe take on Namibia in the men’s gold medal match at the Achimota Sports Complex.
Zimbabwe Dominate, Seek Second Gold
Zimbabwe has been in imperious form throughout the tournament, securing comfortable victories in all their matches. Their skipper, Clive Madande, led from the front with a crucial 41-run knock in their convincing 70-run win over Kenya in the semi-final. A late cameo by Tashinga Musekiwa (39* off 10 balls) further propelled their total to a formidable 196. Owen Mzondo, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps, starred with the ball, restricting Kenya to 126 all out.
Namibia Upsets Uganda to Reach Final
Namibia defied the odds to reach the final, defeating pre-tournament favorites Uganda by 24 runs in the first semi-final. Despite missing key players, Namibia displayed remarkable resilience with contributions from Malan Kruger (21) and Nikolaas Jakobus Davin (25) at the top of the order. Their bowlers, particularly Handre Klazinga (4/19) and Ben Shikongo (2/12), restricted Uganda’s batting lineup to 87 runs.
East African Bronze Medal Hopes
While Zimbabwe and Namibia battle for gold, Kenya and Uganda will vie for the bronze medal. Kenya, despite a promising start against Zimbabwe with contributions from Collins Obuya (52), Neil Mugabe (20), and Sukhdeep Singh (12), succumbed to the bowling attack led by Owen Mzondo (4/19). Uganda, who dominated the early stages of the tournament, will be aiming to end their campaign on a high note.
A Historic Day for Cricket
The final between Zimbabwe and Namibia promises to be a thrilling encounter. Regardless of the outcome, the cricket competition at the African Games has been a resounding success, marking the sport’s historic debut at the continental event.
