Sierra Leone continues to impress at the U19 World Cup qualifiers.
They made short work of their latest challenge in the ICC Under 19 World Cup, Africa Division Two on Thursday, as they breezed past Rwanda by nine wickets.
That made it three from three for the young, but extremely organised side. Having won the toss and inserted their opponents, they soon put on the strangle. Charles Kargbo led the miserly bowling effort, conceding just nine runs in his 10-over spell.
His final analysis read 10-4-9-3, with his three scalps all happy to be released from his stranglehold. His final victim, Parfait Mugisha, was a case in point. Normally full of strokes, Mugisha could only muster two runs from 60 balls, before he was finally caught behind.
Rwanda were eventually bowled out for 36, in 28.1 painful overs. Chasing that meager offering, Sierra Leone wasted little time, needing just 4.4 overs to get the job done, and losing one wicket in the process.
In the only other fixture of the day, also in Group A, Botswana got back on track with a brutal chase against fellow Southern Africans Swaziland, who had batted first. Their total of 109 all out was under-par, given the flatness of the University Ground track.
Unsurprisingly, it was skipper Phemelo Silas who stood shoulders above the rest for Botswana. He took three for 19 with the ball, before a quickfire 29 not out, from just 15 balls, finished off the contest, as his side marched on by seven wickets. Silas struck six boundaries in his cameo, as Botswana hurried home in just 12.1 overs. His latest, all-action display continued a fine individual tournament for the 17-year-old.
The action continues tomorrow with the final games of Group A, with Tanzania, Rwanda and Botswana all in with a chance of making the knockout stage. They will join Nigeria, Mozambique and Sierra Leone.
Scores in brief
Sierra Leone vs Rwanda
Rwanda 36 all out (C Kargbo 3/9)
Sierra Leone 37 for one (H Kamara 20 not out)
Sierra Leone won by nine wickets
Botswana vs Swaziland
Swaziland 109 all out (D Divan 20, P Silas 3/19)
Botswana 112 for three (P Silas 29 not out, S Rangaswamy 29, M Arooz 27 not out)
Botswana won by seven wickets
Points Tables
Group A
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Points | NRR |
| Sierra Leone | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1.781 |
| Tanzania | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.957 |
| Botswana | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.426 |
| Rwanda | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.273 |
| Swaziland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.143 |
Group B
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Points | NRR |
| Nigeria | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5.087 |
| Mozambique | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.807 |
| Ghana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.679 |
| Lesotho | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5.299 |
Photo: Cricket South Africa
