Uganda and Namibia qualify for U-19 World Cup

Action from Namibia v PNG © ICC

Uganda inched past Kenya and Namibia comfortably overcame PNG in the semi finals of the ICC Africa/EAP U-19 World Cup qualifier played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Uganda, the form side of the tournament, lost the toss and fielded first against a determined Kenya. At 74 for 4 in 30 overs the game was evenly poised until the introduction of Ronald Semanda who took 3 for 35 in 10 tidy overs - he was well supported by Emmanual Issanez (4 for 21). Kenya were all out to the last ball of the 49th over for 113.

A nervous Uganda were never able to take full control of the persistent Kenyan attack, and they wobbled in sight of victory, their seventh and eighth wickets falling in consecutive balls at 109. The last five runs came agonisingly slowly, with offspinner Dilip Mavji taking 1 for 6 off 10 overs. Hamza Saleh Almuzahim top scored with 21 off 53 balls.

In the other semi-final, Papua New Guinea were their own worst enemy, dropping eight catches as Namibia amassed an imposing 263 for 6 from their 50 overs. LP Van der Westhuizen was the star again for Namibia with a well-compiled and mature 113 off 136 balls. Dawid Botha also continued his good form with 66 off 92 balls.

Action from Nigeria v Tanzania © ICC

After strokemaker Emmanuel Karo was caught behind for 0 in the first over, PNG were always going to be behind the asking rate. Jack Vare (52 off 107 balls) and Kapena Arua (43 off 90) steadied the ship and combined for a 109-run third-wicket partnership. However, the run-rate continued to climb as the Namibian bowlers applied the screws with a consistent line-and-length attack. Van der Westhuizen continued his Man-of-the-Match-winning form with 1 for 25, and opening bowler Henno Prinsloo (3 for 22) was also destructive in the middle stages of the innings. The end came quickly as the last three wickets fell for one run, PNG finishing 100 runs shy of their target.

Elsewhere, Tanzania knocked over Nigeria for 161 and then cruised to an eight-wicket win, with Abhik Patwa top scoring with 54 and Benson Mwita smashing an unbeaten 52 off 43 balls.

Fiji were bowled out for 80 and after a couple of early scares, Zambia completed a four-wicket victory with 23 overs to spare. Fiji's cause was not helped by their wayward bowling (22 wides).