Midwest Rhinos of Zimbabwe are the winners of this year’s second edition of the Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) under 19 Invitational Tournament.
The young ladies from Zimbabwe won the four nation tournament after winning all their games, while Botswana U19s came second.
The Midwest Rhinos won all their three matches for the tournament, amassing six points in the process while runners up Botswana won two games. Midwest’s win means Botswana are yet to win the tournament, which they host.
After a good start that saw them winning their first game of the tournament by 280 runs against the Swaziland team, Botswana were flattened by Midwest Rhinos of Zimbabwe in their second match.
The team, however, bounced back from the defeat in their final match against Namibia, winning it convincingly to clinch second position. Against Swaziland in their first match of the tournament, the local girls were the first to bat and they responded positively as they posted an impressive score of 327 for the loss of 5 wickets in 35 overs, with Shameelah Mosweu hitting the tournament’s first century in the process. The youngster posted an impressive score of 111 runs not out from 72 balls to help Botswana set an insurmountable score for Swaziland to chase.
Sent to bat, Swaziland found it tough as the local cricketers bowled them all out for 47 runs in 27.4 overs, ensuring Botswana win by 280 runs. Botswana’s second match was a closely fought encounter against Midwest Rhinos, who had on the previous day, beat Namibia by 6 wickets. Midwest Rhinos batted first and set the local girls a run target of 191 in 35 overs to chase, largely thanks to Josephine Nkomo who accounted for 110 runs of Zimbabwe’s total runs.
In response, Botswana ladies could only manage to score 166 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 35 overs, eventually losing the match by 25 runs to Midwest. The loss meant Botswana’s final match against Namibia, who had bounced back from their defeat against Midwest by beating Swaziland, became of paramount importance as the winner would be guaranteed at least a second spot in the tournament. Having lost to Namibia in the tournament the previous year, Botswana came into the game in vengeful mood and got their revenge.
With Namibia sent into the crease first, Botswana bowlers were in vengeful mood as they restricted Namibia to only 109 runs all out in 33 overs, with bowler Ankita Trivedi claiming four wickets in 7 overs. Botswana ladies then made short work of the Namibians as they successfully chased the score in 14.3 overs for the loss of two wickets to get their revenge. While the win guaranteed at least second position, it could not guarantee the local girls their first tournament championship win as Midwest tore Swaziland apart by 410 runs to win the tournament, with Nkomo spearheading the Midwest batting with 178 not out from 106 balls.
Midwest’s win meant Botswana got second position for the second consecutive year in the tournament. Last year’s champions, Namibia, got third position while Swaziland came fourth. The team from Swaziland was however given a Spirit of Cricket Award for their efforts in the tournament. In individual awards, Midwest’s Josephine Nkomo was voted Player of the Tournament for her efforts. Other awards were as follows; Best Batsperson – Shameelah Mosweu (Botswana), Best Bowler – Botho Freeman (Botswana),
Best Fielder ÔÇô Modester Mupachikwa (Midwest Rhinos) while Namibia’s Carmen Engelbrecht was voted Best wicket keeper.
