By Kenneth Zindondo, contributor:
The Malawi National Cricket Team delivered a spirited performance at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub‑Regional Africa Qualifier B, securing a third‑place finish despite challenging conditions and a rain‑affected conclusion.
The tournament, which was staged at Achimota Senior Secondary School grounds in Accra, Ghana, from March 24 to 29, featured strong regional sides that included hosts Ghana, Tanzania, Seychelles, eSwatini and St Helena.
Malawi’s campaign ended with the final-scheduled match against St Helena abandoned without a ball bowled due to persistent rains on Sunday.
Malawi finished with two wins, two narrow defeats and one no result, earning five points and a positive net run rate of +0.778.
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Malawian player at the
tournament
Tanzania and Ghana topped the standings undefeated to advance to the next stage of qualification.
The Flames opened their campaign on March 24 with a tough loss to eventual table‑toppers Tanzania, who chased down Malawi’s 77 with eight wickets in hand.
Two days later, they suffered another close defeat to hosts Ghana, falling short by just two wickets in a tense chase where Ghana reached the target of 99 off the final ball.
Malawi bounced back strongly on March 27, dismantling eSwatini with a dominant all‑round display.
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After restricting their opponents to just 75 in 15.2 overs, Malawi chased down the modest total in only 6.5 overs, winning by eight wickets with 79 balls to spare.
The standout performer was Kelvin Thuchila, whose sensational spell of six wickets for eight runs ranked among the tournament’s best bowling figures and earned him player of the match honours.
The resurgence started on Saturday when Malawi comfortably chased Seychelles’ 108/7, reaching 111/4 in 17 overs for a six‑wicket victory with 18 balls remaining.
These wins highlighted the team’s growing balance between bat and ball, as well as their resilience under pressure.
Cricket Malawi President Vivek Ganesan praised the squad’s fighting spirit and evident progress.
“The team showed real resilience, fight and growth throughout the tournament,” he said.
The team is expected to arrive in Malawi Wednesday.
