T20 Cricket World Cup qualifiers: Ghana power through despite Tanzania's net run rate win
TANZANIA edged Ghana’s Black Batters on net run rate to be crowned champions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier B, but both sides celebrated a bigger prize — qualification to the next stage on the road to the 2028 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
The two teams finished level at the summit after winning all four of their matches in the March 24–29 competition at the Achimota Cricket Oval, underlining their dominance over the rest of the field.
Their eagerly anticipated final-day showdown was washed out by rain, leaving Tanzania to clinch top spot on a superior net run rate of 6.73 compared to Ghana’s 3.31.
While the hosts fell just short of the title, their qualification alongside Tanzania to the Regional Qualifier finals — the next decisive phase — marked a significant milestone for Ghanaian cricket and a strong statement of intent on home soil.
Tanzania, however, left little doubt about their credentials as tournament favourites, combining ruthless batting with disciplined bowling to sweep both team honours and individual accolades at the closing ceremony held at the Alisa Hotel.
Tanzania shows class
Ivan Ismail Selemani headlined their dominance, amassing 211 runs and 30 boundaries to be named Most Valuable Player after a series of explosive, match-winning performances. Ajith Augastin’s consistency with the bat earned him the Best Batsman award with 145 runs at an average of 72.5, while Laksh Snehal Barkania’s nine wickets at an economy rate of 2.87 secured him the Best Bowler prize.
Their campaign was equally emphatic. Tanzania opened with a composed eight-wicket win over Malawi before dismantling Eswatini by 158 runs, Seychelles by 153 runs and St Helena by a crushing 161 runs — a sequence of results that effectively sealed qualification well before the final day.
Ghana matched that momentum with an impressive run of their own, feeding off strong home support to produce one of their most complete performances in recent years.
They began with a six-wicket victory over Seychelles before delivering the tournament’s defining moment — a dramatic last-ball win over Malawi, sealed by Lee Nyarko’s nerveless boundary, which ultimately proved decisive in shaping the standings.
Further dominant victories over St Helena by nine wickets and Eswatini by 83 runs confirmed their place in the top two and ensured qualification even before the rain intervened on the final day.
The Black Batters’ campaign was anchored by standout individual contributions. Jayant Gautam led the batting charts for Ghana with 103 runs at an average of 34.33, including a match-winning 44 against St Helena. Isaac Aboagye spearheaded the bowling attack with six wickets at an economy of 2.75, highlighted by a superb 3 for 6 against Seychelles, while captain Obed Harvey delivered a strong all-round performance with 47 runs and five wickets.
Reflecting on the achievement, Harvey praised both the organisers and his team’s effort. “We thank the organisers for bringing such a top-level cricket event to Ghana and for successfully hosting it. We set out to finish in the top two and we have achieved that target,” he said.
The tournament’s closing ceremony, attended by National Sports Authority Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah (representing Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Iddie Adams ) alongside Ghana Olympic Committee President, Richard Akpokavie; officials of the Ghana Cricket Association and the ICC, capped a week that showcased the growing standard and appeal of cricket across the continent.
Attention now shifts to the remaining sub-regional qualifiers, with Botswana set to host Qualifier A in May and Nigeria staging Qualifier C later in the year. Namibia have already secured passage to the next round by virtue of their appearance at the last T20 World Cup, while Zimbabwe and South Africa have booked automatic places at the 2028 finals following their Super 8 finishes in the 2026 edition.
