Eswatini cricket WC dream up in smoke

MBABANE – Another upset.

Yesterday, Sierra Leone women delivered a commanding performance, beating Eswatini Women by a staggering 149 runs in their second match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup Africa Division Two Qualifier in Botswana.

Eswatini, still reeling from a 111-run defeat to hosts Botswana in their opening fixture, were desperate to bounce back but found themselves outclassed by a ruthless Sierra Leone side.

Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Eswatini’s decision backfired spectacularly as Sierra Leone’s batting team amassed a formidable total of 190 runs.

Their bowlers then defended this imposing target with clinical precision, skittling (dismissing a batting side quickly and for a low score, often with bowlers taking wickets in rapid succession) Eswatini for a paltry 41 for eight in their 20 overs.

Eswatini’s innings unravelled from the outset, with Sierra Leone’s bowlers, led by the exceptional Aminata Kamara, dismantling the top order.

Finishing with exceptional figures of four overs, two maidens, three runs conceded and three wickets, which were the dismissals of Winile Ginindza, Ntombizodwa Mkhatshwa and Lihle Shabalala in her opening spell.

Her disciplined line and length reduced Eswatini to two wickets down by the fourth over.

Emma Kamara complemented her namesake’s brilliance, bowling a tight four overs with one maiden, conceding just nine runs and claiming two wickets—Mbali Dlamini and Lindokuhle—to further tighten the screws.

Eswatini’s batting crumbled under the relentless pressure.

Only Nothando Mabila offered any resistance, crafting an unbeaten 20 runs off 18 balls, including two boundaries off Aisha Bangura and Linda Bull.

Her defiant knock, featuring a crisp four and a pair of twos in the middle overs, was the sole highlight in an otherwise woeful display.

Captain Mbali Dlamini laboured to eight runs off 31 balls, unable to rotate the strike, while Noncedo Simelane faced seven deliveries without scoring.

The tail offered little fight, with Sierra Leone’s Bull conceding just two runs in her two overs and claiming the wicket of Nkosingiphile Mamba.

A sharp run-out involving Zainab Kamara and Fatu Pessima accounted for Tibusiso Dlamini, further exposing Eswatini’s frailties.

Sierra Leone’s dominance was underlined in the closing overs.

Full story in today’s copy.