Botswana crushes to world's worst T20 defeat
Mqondisi Dube | Friday May 24, 2019 12:06
But this week, in the central parts of Africa, all the good work was undone.
After consecutive defeats to hosts, Uganda and Nigeria in the ICC Africa Region Finals, Botswana saved the worst for Wednesday in Kampala as they crushed to the heaviest defeat ever recorded in T20 cricket.Neighbours Namibia, who have been in good form at the T20 World Cup qualifiers, were ruthless, beating Botswana by 10 wickets. Botswana was dismissed for 46, the third lowest ever score registered by a national side in a T20 match.
Namibia did not show their neighbours any love, dismissing Botswana inside 13 overs, before strolling to victory with 97 balls remaining, which is the heaviest defeat inflicted on any side in T20 cricket. The Namibians reached the victory target in just 3.5 overs.
Four of Botswana’s batsmen were out for a duck, with Nabil Master the only one to offer some resistance with 21 runs from 16 balls. Former captain, Karabo Modise and Adithiya Rangaswamy were dismissed for golden ducks, while all the batsmen, except Master, failed to reach double figures, in an embarrassingly one-sided contest.Botswana lost three wickets inside the first two overs and never recovered as Namibia firmly turned on the screws.
Namibia dispelled fears of any demons on the Kyambogo Cricket Oval pitch as Nikolaas Davin hit a quick fire 21 from 14 balls, including four fours in the fourth over, off the bowling of Rangaswamy.
As a result, Botswana slumped to the bottom of the six-team table, while Namibia maintained their top spot.
Two countries from the hosts, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia and Botswana, will qualify for the final round of the ICC World Cup qualifiers to be played in the United Arab Emirates in October.
Botswana were due to meet Kenya yesterday, in what was effectively a dead rubber, but rain had the final say as play was washed out.