Motlhanka-inspired Botswana sink Rwanda in Africa Continental Cup

NAIROBI: Botswana skipper Karabo Motlhanka’s sensational 75 powered his side beat Rwanda and register their maiden victory in the ongoing Africa Continental Cup.

Opting to bat first, Botswana piled up a commendable total on the scoreboard as they finished at 169/2 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to a blistering 75-run knock by their skipper Kabaro Motlhanka.

Botswana openers Motlhanka and Ameer Saiyed provided a solid start to their side as the pair raised a brilliant 112-run partnership.

Motlhanka was the core aggressor of the opening stand while Saiyed played an anchoring role before walking back to the pavilion in disgust after a bizarre dismissal.

He batted patiently for his 41-ball 38 which included two boundaries and a six.

Motlhanka then put on a brief partnership with Thatayaone Tshose (12) and added 23 runs to the total before the latter perished in the 17th over.

Following Tshose’s dismissal, wicketkeeper batter Valentine Mbazo joined skipper Kabaro Motlhanka in the middle and stitched an unbeaten partnership.

The pair added brisk 34 runs in the last four overs and bolstered Botswana to a respectable total.

Kabaro Motlhanka top-scored for his side with a quickfire 75 in just 59 deliveries, laced up with eight boundaries and a six while Mbazo remained unbeaten on an 11-ball 19.

For Rwanda, only Martin Akayezu and Clinton Rubagumya could pick up a wicket.

Set to chase 170, Rwanda’s batting lineup failed completely and could only accumulate 136 runs before bundling out in the final over.

Didier Ndikubwimana remained the top-scorer of Rwanda during their dismal batting show with a 33-ball 39 while skipper Clinton Rubagumya was the other notable run-getter as he scored 22 off 16.

Besides them, only two batters made it into the double figures while the rest seemed hapless against Botswana’s bowling attack.

Katlo Piet and Dhruvkumar Maisuria bagged two wickets each for Botswana while Mmoloki Mooketsi and Losika Makgale struck out a batter each.

The victory marked Botswana’s first in the ongoing Africa Continental Cup after they succumbed to a six-wicket defeat against Uganda in their opening victory.

Botswana now hold the third spot with two points in the Africa Continental Cup’s standings while Rwanda remained at the bottom with no points.

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