Botswana senior men’s national cricket team, The Baggy Blues, have secured a spot at the Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers Africa Finals.
The Baggy Blues qualified following a second-place finish behind Nigeria at the ICC men’s T20 world cup sub regional Africa qualifier Group C tournament. The qualifiers were held in Abuja, Nigeria, from the 23rd to the 28th of November 2024.
By qualifying for the men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers Africa Finals, the Baggy Blues are now on the cusp of writing their own history. Only seven countries and seven games now stand between them and a maiden appearance at the T20 World Cup.
Along with Nigeria, Botswana will join Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya in the finals which are scheduled to take place in 2025. Namibia and Uganda qualified for the finals without playing in the qualifiers having been given a bye due to their participation at the previous T20 World Cup.
Tanzania and Malawi on the other hand qualified after finishing first and second respectively at the sub regional Africa qualifier Group A tournament which was hosted by Tanzania in September 2024. The other finalists, Zimbabwe and Kenya, qualified during a Group B tournament which was hosted by Kenya from the 19th to the 24th October 2024.
Enroute to the finals, Botswana and Nigeria each qualified with a game to spare. Botswana’s journey started on the first day of the tournament when they played and beat fellow Southern Africans eSwatini by 48 runs. In the game, Botswana won the toss and opted to bat first. They then posted a daunting 175 runs from their 20 overs, before they bowled out eSwatini for 127 runs in 18.4 overs.
The Baggy Blues’ second match of the tournament was against Sierra Leone, who they beat by 5 wickets. Following their opponents’ decision to bat first after winning the toss, Botswana bowlers made things easier as the Sierra Leoneans were bowled all out for 115 runs in 15.4 overs. Botswana then went on to score 117 runs for the loss of five wickets as they clinched the match in 17.3 overs.
Botswana’s third and fourth matches pitted them against Ivory Coast and Saint Helena respectively. Here, the Baggy Blues were ruthless as they won by 10 wickets against the Ivorians before winning by 9 wickets against Saint Helena. The two wins ensured Botswana qualified for the finals before facing hosts Nigeria on the final match of the tournament.
Unfortunately for the Baggy Blues, their tournament’s winning streak was brought to a ruthless halt by the hosts. Botswana lost the match by 77 runs. Sent to field by after losing the toss, the Baggy Blues were helpless as Nigeria posted a daunting 181 runs for 5 wickets. The score proved too difficult for Botswana who only managed 104 runs and were all bowled out in 18.4 overs.
With the qualification secured, Botswana will now look to earnestly prepare and correct any mistakes before facing the continent’s best teams in the finals.
