Champions Again. What’s Next?

The Tanzanians cut such a decisive swathe through the tournament, finishing as champions and going undefeated, it begs the question, where to next for this very talented cricket team?

Not once was this team challenged, defeating the other tournament heavyweights, Uganda and Kenya by 5 wickets and 38 runs respectively in the round robin stages, and a hefty 44 run victory over Kenya in the final. There was no stopping this team.

What happens next is important. This team has only played 25 matches since gaining T20I status and 8 of those matches were here. Ranked 17th in the world the next challenge for Tanzania will be playing teams outside of their continent. They’ll do that well, for they excel in every department but will grow further with the prospect of playing higher ranked teams.

Results:

• Botswana (Tanzania by 57 runs)
• Uganda (Tanzania by 5 wickets)
• Kenya (Tanzania by 38 runs)
• Germany (Tanzania by 58 runs)
• Rwanda (Tanzania by 5 wickets)
• Nigeria (Tanzania by 7 wickets)
• Brazil (Tanzania by 10 wickets)
• Final: Kenya (Tanzania by 44 runs)

Batting

The captain, Fatuma Kibasu, was the second leading run scorer in the tournament, and hers was a steady, consistent hand at the top of the order.

Less consistency with the rest of the batting, but throughout the tournament various players put their hand up to join the skipper, for example Mwanaidi Swedy‘s 34 against Kenya in the group stage, Perice Kamunya‘s 29 in the final.

Saum Mtae‘s 44 against Kenya showed just how dangerous this player can be, sporting a career strike rate in excess of 100, but lack of consistent let her down here. One to watch however, for she can be very destructive with the bat.

Bowling

Nasra Saidi was the leading wicket taker for the tournament with 15 to her name, while the only other Tanzanian bowler in the top ten was Tabu Saidi with 10. As with the batting, contributions from others at crucial times, such as Zinaida Jeremiah‘s 4-14 against Botswana.

A key area is economy and every bowler except the captain (who bowled just 6 overs) had an economy rate under 6.00. Perice Kamunya took only 8 wickets but her economy of 4.65 was excellent for Tanzania, bowling the most deliveries for her captain.

Fielding

Mwanaidi Swedy was the leading fielder in the tournament with 7 catches, while Shufaa Mohamedi was equal best wicket keeper with Uganda’s Kevin Awino with 6 dismissals. That 12 different players took catches suggests that anything catch-able was gobbled up, no matter who was under the ball.

Ground fielding was the best of all the teams on show and there’s some deadly throwing arms in the Tanzanian team. The whole package says they are a force to be reckoned with. More games needed for this skillful outfit!