Tanzania: Kenya’s U19 Cricket World Cup Qualification Hopes Hang By a Thread After Dismal Batting Display Against Tanzania
Nairobi — Kenya’s chances of securing a place in the 2026 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup suffered a massive blow following a shocking batting collapse against Tanzania in their latest qualifier match.
In a game where victory would have placed them in a strong position ahead of their final fixture, Kenya instead put up a performance that left fans and analysts questioning the team’s approach and mindset.
Kenya’s Batting Nightmare
Set a modest target of 115 after electing to field first, Kenya endured an embarrassing batting display, managing only 60 runs from 257 balls before being bowled out in 42.5 overs.
The Tanzanian bowlers, sensing Kenya’s struggles, bowled an astonishing 19 maiden overs, completely strangling the run flow.
Neel Doshi was the lone Kenyan batter to reach double digits, scoring a gritty 18 from 71 balls, but even his knock was not enough to mount a fightback.
By the 10th over, Kenya found themselves in dire straits with more overs than runs on the board at 9 for 3. Their struggles only deepened, as they slumped to 20 for 5 in the 20th over.
The scoreboard read 30 for 7 by the 33rd over, and despite a small resistance, Kenya’s innings barely crawled past the number of overs bowled, reaching 46 for 8 by the 40th over.
A rare positive came in the 42nd over, which yielded eight runs–one of the only bright moments in an otherwise disastrous display.
Tanzania’s Innings: A Stumbling Finish but Enough on the Board
Tanzania, coming into the match with momentum from previous victories, made a strong start after electing to bat.
Their top order put on 56 runs within the first 11 overs, looking poised for a big total. However, Kenya’s spinners, led by Stian Smith (3 for 26), turned the tide, restricting Tanzania to 80 for 6 after 24 overs.
Despite the collapse, a late contribution from the lower order helped Tanzania reach 114 before being bowled out.
Akshith Sekar (2 for 12) and Saijeeth Chidambaran (2 for 13) provided solid support in Kenya’s bowling effort, but their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by the team’s disastrous batting performance.
Implications for Kenya’s Qualification Hopes
This loss leaves Kenya’s World Cup qualification hopes in serious jeopardy.
With one game left against Namibia, they must not only win convincingly but also hope that Sierra Leone stun Tanzania.
The inconsistency in their batting lineup has been their biggest downfall, and if they are to stand any chance, drastic improvements are needed in their approach.
As Kenya prepares for the crucial encounter against Namibia, the team must regroup quickly, reassess their strategy, and find a way to break their batting slump.
If not, their campaign risks ending in disappointment, dashing their hopes of securing a spot in the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup.
Crédito: Link de origem