Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. ZIMBABWE made a triumphant return to the international stage, securing a spot in next T20 World Cup after dispatching Kenya by seven wickets in the second semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 Africa Qualifier at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The victory not only marked Zimbabwe’s qualification for the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, but also set the stage for an intriguing battle for the coveted Africa Cup against Namibia, who had earlier booked their World Cup ticket by beating Tanzania in the first semifinal at the same venue.
The team has managed to put to bed memories of the disappointment of failing to qualify two years ago in Namibia.
“We have to deal with emotions and in those emotions, we stay calm and do not allow the results of the past to question our skills and our processes,” captain Sikandar Raza said.
“We have put that to bed and we are on our way to the World Cup and there is not much more I can add there.
“It’s a very happy and proud change at the moment, but in the same breath, having said that, when the tournament started, we didn’t just set out to qualify for the World Cup.
“We want to win the trophy and we have a very important match, so we don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves.”
He added: “We have a very crucial match coming up on Saturday and Inshallah, we want to try and win that as well.
“Because we want to build a happy and a winning changing room and it can only be done if you take every game out there that presents itself and then you try and put your best foot forward and try and win it.
“So we are looking forward to the Saturday game now.”
Zimbabwe’s triumph was spearheaded by serial performer Brian Bennett, who lit up the scene with a scintillating half-century.
Chasing down Kenya’s modest total of 122/6, Bennett scored 51 off just 25 balls, showering the ground with eight boundaries and two sixes.
His moment of reckoning came in the fourth over when he hit six fours off left-arm medium pacer Lucas Oluoch Ndandason, yielding 24 runs.
When Ndandason took the ball, Zimbabwe were cruising at 23/0 after three overs.
Bennett’s onslaught propelled the team to 47/0 after his over, and Zimbabwe went on to win the match with relative ease.
Fellow opener Tadiwanashe Marumani chipped in with 39 off 27 deliveries, while Ryan Burl hit the winning runs with a single, remaining unbeaten on 16.
Tony Munyonga stood at the non-striker’s end, backing the single run to victory and ending unbeaten on three.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s bowlers had set the tone for the match with some discplined performances.
Towering seamer Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets for 19 runs from four overs.
Richard Ngarava reached a milestone, taking his 100th T20 wicket by dismissing Kenya’s big fish, Rakep Patel, caught and bowled for 65 off 47 balls.
Brad Evans and Tinotenda Maposa also picked a wicket each, restricting Kenya’s batting unit.
For Kenya, Jasraj Kundi (19*) and Sachin Gill (19) were the joint second-best scorers, while Vraj Patel took two wickets for 29 runs from four overs.
Zimbabwe will now focus in tomorrow’s final match against Namibia, aiming to add the Africa Cup trophy to their World Cup qualification.
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