Tanzania clinch ICC U19 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier

Doha: Tanzania claimed a triumphant victory on home soil to secure the trophy in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier after ten days of competition in Dar es Salaam.

Both sides had already sealed their qualification through to next year’s Africa Qualifier by virtue of winning their semi-finals on Friday, and took to the field on Sunday with high hopes of an unbeaten sweep of the event.

The rain-affected match saw Sierra Leone win the toss and elect to bowl. Tanzania openers Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra started brightly, seeing off the frontline bowlers in a 48-run stand before Jobanputra was dismissed by Mohamed Turay for 21.

The first wicket led to a mini-collapse of sorts, with Tanzania falling to 57 for four by the 14th over, as Muray and captain Raymond Coker shared the wickets. As Sierra Leone started to impose themselves on the batters, the middle order responded strongly, with skipper Laksh Bakrania (24) and Mohamed Mbaki (29) chipping in with valuable runs as the home side reached a spirited 178 for eight from their 50 overs.

Sierra Leone then set about the chase, but rain intervened to leave them with a revised target of 135 from their 29 overs for victory. (ICC)