African Championships under way (14 October 1998)

14 October 1998

African Championships under way

Rick Eyre in CricInfo365

There has never been a better time than this month to demonstrate the progress in globalisation of the game. The Asian championships have just been won by Bangladesh, the West Indian Red Stripe Bowl has included a team from the USA for the first time, and the former Group Six competition in Africa has expanded to become the Castle African Cricket Association Championship.

The tournament, involving ten teams including developmental sides from South Africa and Zimbabwe, began in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday. The ten sides are divided into the Red Group and the Blue Group and play a round robin series concluding on Thursday. The winners of the Red group play the runners-up of the Blue group, and vice-versa, meet in the semi-finals on Friday, with the final to be played at the Wanderers ground, Windhoek on Saturday.

After Monday's action three teams had won two out of two games - Kenya, South Africa and the host nation Namibia.

Kenya defeated Botswana by 189 runs on Saturday. Fielding a full-strength side, Kenya scored 301 for 7 from their fifty overs, Hitesh Modi scoring 84 and Ravindu Shah 68. Martin Suji (4/5) and Maurice Odumbe (2/30) did the damage as Botswana were dismised for 110, Imran Chand top-scoring with 25.

On Monday Kenya defeated Uganda by six wickets. Uganda scored 162 for 8 from their fifty overs. Modi was again top score with 70 not out for Kenya in their 163 for 4. supported by Kennedy Otieno with 43. Ugandan bowler Okecho caused a scare taking three wickets in four balls.

Namibia scored two crushing victories in their opening matches, defeating Zambia by 134 runs on Saturday and Lesotho by ten wickets on Sunday. Lesotho had earlier lost to South Africa by 134 runs on Saturday. South Africa beat Zambia by six wickets on Monday.

Zimbabwe defeated Botswana by six wickets in their opening game in Sunday, Mark Vermuelen top scoring with 84 not out. They were due to play their second match of the tournament against Uganda on Tuesday.

Source :: CricInfo365