Kenyan girls chase cricket World Twenty20 slot

What you need to know:

  • The other nations fighting to represent Africa in the 2019 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 qualify to be hosted by Scotland from August are Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and hosts Zimbabwe.

Kenya will open their campaign to grab the only slot reserved for the continent in the women’s International Cricket Council Africa Twenty20 qualifier at Takashinga Cricket Club, Harare on Sunday. The team left for Zimbabwe yesterday under the captaincy of Margret Banja, an all-rounder.

The other nations fighting to represent Africa in the 2019 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 qualify to be hosted by Scotland from August are Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and hosts Zimbabwe.

The top two teams in Scotland will qualify for the 2020 ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup set for Australia from February 21 to March 8.

In Zimbabwe, Kenya will miss the services of one of their most experienced all-rounder, Sarah Bhatika, who sprained her right ankle during training at Ruaraka Sports Club on April 24.

Bhatika’s place in the squad was filled by Nakuru-based Ruth Achando, a middle-order right hand batsman, who is also a wicket keeper.

In the 2017 ICC Africa Twenty20 qualifier in Windhoek, Namibia, Uganda edged out Zimbabwe to clinch the African slot in the 2018 global qualifier at the Netherlands that ran from July 7-14. Five teams fought it out in Namibia, The other three were Kenya, Tanzania and hosts Namibia.

Kenya squad: Margaret Ngoche (captain), Sharon Juma, Ruth Achando, Venasa Ooko, Queentor Abel, Mary Mwangi, Esther Wachira, Daisy Njoroge, Mercyline Ochieng, Silvia Kinyua, Monicah Ndhambi, Teresia Mwangi, Veronica Abuga, Lavender Idambo.

Management: Lameck Onyango (coach), Moses Ndung’u (Physiotherapist) and Lydia Kaparo (team manager).