By Innocent Ndawula
ICC U-19 Africa World Cup Qualifier
Results - Saturday, March 23
*Tanzania 144/10 Uganda 147/2
Uganda won by 8 wickets
*Sierra Leone 138/10 Nigeria 139/8
Nigeria won by 2 wickets
*Namibia 294/5 Kenya 96/10
Namibia won by 198 runs
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
*Player of the Tournament
Sylvester Okpe of Nigeria
(111 runs in 5 innings, 9 wickets for 65 runs in 24.2 overs & 3 catches)
*Best Batsman
Divan la Cock of Namibia
(271 runs in 5 innings at 54.2 per innings)
*Best Bowler
Mauritius Valentine Ngupita of Namibia
(15 wickets for 71 runs in 37.1 overs)
FINAL TABLE STANDINGS
M W L T N/R Pts NRR
Nigeria 5 5 0 0 0 10 1.237
Namibia 5 4 1 0 0 8 2.760
Uganda 5 3 2 0 0 6 0.581
Sierra Leone 5 2 3 0 0 4 -0.880
Kenya 5 1 4 0 0 2 -1.268
Tanzania 5 0 5 0 0 0 -2.668
*NRR denotes Net Run Rate, NR for No Result, T for Tie
There was no wooden spoon for the Baby Cricket Cranes and more importantly no relegation to the Africa Division II as Uganda wrapped up its bittersweet campaign at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 Africa World Cup Qualifier in Windhoek, Namibia.
The last three countries on the log; fiery West Africans Sierra Leone, neighbouring arch-foes Kenya, who were at the last World Cup in 2018 New Zealand and bottom finishers Tanzania will have to go through the ignominy of playing Division II qualifiers next year to earn the right to play at this level again, in 2021.
But that consolation didn’t suffice to the many fans that were pregnant with expectation that this particular generation of U-19s would halt the wait to appear in another World Cup since the 2006 crop that played in the Sri Lanka edition.
Arinaitwe ton too little too late
It was a little too late for Uganda, even after Uganda mauled Tanzania by 8 wickets with a 226 balls remaining in the last round of this tense, thrilling and action-packed showpiece.
Uganda’s top order batsmen struggled for rhythm early on in the tournament and even when they got starts, they were guilty of not converting.
The only time it happened against Tanzania, coach Jackson Ogwang’s boys steamrolled their opponents Tanzania; making a mockery of their set score of 144 runs by chasing it down in just 12.2 overs.
Zephaniah Arinaitwe, who was the only player with a senior national team cap, oscillated between mediocrity and flashes of brilliance. A free-scoring stroke maker Arinaitwe primarily held Uganda’s key to progress because of his prior exposure.
When he muscled a 30-ball 69 against Namibia, Uganda were in dreamland but his dismissal at 74 runs in 7.2 overs signaled the end of Uganda’s hunt for the hosts set score of 250.
Remarkable debuts
Against Tanzania in what the Ugandan contingent in Windhoek termed as their ‘grande finale’, Arinaitwe showed his well-documented destructive nature with a 40-ball 102 that was littered with six boundaries and nine beautiful sixes - an innings of super timing.
Uganda’s bowling which will hardly take too much blame on this particular trip; had earlier on held fort. Opening bowler Juma Miyaji returned stellar figures of 3 for 21 in 9.3 overs and captain Frank Akankwasa’s 10-over spell of spin prized out three scalps for a measly 33 runs.
There were more positives for the Baby Cricket Cranes as Tanzania’s batsmen; Ashish Shah (40 off 91) and Aahil Jasani (28 off 56) opted to build a wall of attrition with tournament debutants; Pascal Murungi (aged 14) and Edwin Nuwagaba (aged 15), who is Arinaitwe’s younger brother, respectively snared two wickets and bowled a maiden first over in international cricket with the opponents’ innings ending in 48.3 overs.
Such was Uganda’s final flourish but it was a little too late as it will be Nigeria going to first-ever U-19 World Cup.
Nigeria heroics
Nigeria secured their spot in dramatic fashion after beating Sierra Leone by two wickets, to ensure the dominant hosts Namibia didn’t snatch their spot.
Set 139 to win, Nigeria endured a nervy chase, slipping to 87 for six at one point, before man of the match Peter Aho scored a priceless 21 not out to see them home. The entire squad rushed onto the field in jubilation, as they confirmed their seat at their first ever global tournament.
Aho had also taken two wickets earlier, when Sierra Leone posted 138 all out at the Windhoek Affies Park. On the adjacent field, Namibia had posted a massive victory over Kenya, so Nigeria simply had to win.
Sierra Leone provided them with plenty of challenges, as Haroun Kamara's 58 from 60 balls propelled his side to a testing target. John Bangura chipped in with hearty 21, and as Sierra Leone refused to go quietly.
Osman Sankoh's late 24 also lifted the tempo, and the previously unheralded Abdulrahman Jimoh took two quick wickets for Nigeria ta the end, to stop the target getting any bigger.
In response, Nigeria endured a tumultuous time of it, not aided by a gathering storm. Isaac Danladi's responsible 25 was crucial, while Miracle Ikaige also lent a hand with a vital 22. But the wickets kept on tumbling, and the pressure kept on mounting.
Namibia cheer Sierra Leone
Aho's nerveless intervention, mixed with occasional aggression, whittled down the target, and Nigeria were helped over the line by the cheering Ugandan squad. Namibia, on the other hand, were understandably cheering on Sierra Leone, having completed a 198-run drubbing of Kenya.
Skipper Divan la Cock was again in the runs, with 88 from 102 balls, and Jan-Izak de Villiers added a steady 55, as Namibia piled on the runs. Ramon Wilmot had set them on their way with a blitzkrieg 46 from just 31 balls, clubbing three sixes in the process.
The hosts eventually ended on 294 for five, as they finished the tournament like a freight train. They rolled Kenya over for 96, with Mauritius Valentine Ngupita yet again in the wickets. His three for 15 supplemented De Villiers' burst upfront, as Namibia rushed through the East Africans to end like the pre-tournament favourites they had been anointed by the pundits.
But their efforts were still, a little too late, as they were left ruing having failed to chase down a small target of 129 runs against Nigeria in the opening match. They folded for a basketball score of 77 and must wait until 2022 if they’re to make a return to the big time (World Cup).
Additional reporting ICC Media