Gambia 112/9 (20 overs) beat Lesotho 109 (19.5 overs) by three runs
NCF Oval 1, Abuja, Sunday 25 October
Toss: Gambia, chose to bat
GAMBIA survived a frantic final over to beat Lesotho by three runs and register their first victory of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C at NCF Oval 1 in Abuja on Sunday.
After four straight defeats, Gambia had little reason to feel comfortable defending 112 for nine, particularly when Lesotho’s openers put on 37 without losing a wicket.
But Aniru Conteh and Andre Jarju turned the match around, helping reduce Lesotho to 65 for eight before Inshaf Farook threatened to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Farook struck an unbeaten 35 from 27 balls, including two fours and two sixes, but Lesotho were bowled out for 109 in 19.5 overs, falling three runs short of their target.
The match went down to the final over, with Lesotho needing 23 runs from seven deliveries and only one wicket remaining.
Farook kept the chase alive, taking advantage of an expensive final over from wicketkeeper Ousman Bah, who conceded 18 runs from five balls.
With four runs needed from the final delivery, Malei Khauta was run out for two by Malang Touray and Bah, ending Lesotho’s hopes of an unlikely victory.
For Gambia, it was a welcome change after a tournament in which little had gone their way.
Their batting had again struggled after captain Abubacarr Kuyateh won the toss and elected to bat.
Mohmed Duvesh Patel caused most of the early problems, dismissing Andre Jarju for eight and Frank Campbell for a first-ball duck with successive deliveries in the sixth over.
He then bowled Muhammed Manga for 10 and had Conteh caught by Lebona Leokaoke without scoring, leaving Gambia on 27 for four in the eighth over.
Kuyateh tried to hold the innings together, but he kept losing partners.
Pa Assan Faye was run out for six, David Demba was bowled by Lefulere Monanthane for nine, and Mustapha Suwareh was run out for two as Gambia slipped to 74 for seven in the 15th over.
Kuyateh made 29 from 33 balls before Farook trapped him lbw, leaving his side on 76 for eight.
At that stage, reaching 100 looked uncertain.
Musa Jobarteh provided the late runs Gambia badly needed, striking 20 from 13 deliveries, including two fours and a six.
He put on 28 for the ninth wicket with Bah before Monanthane had him caught by Bahlakoana Mejaro.
Bah and Malang Touray, both unbeaten on six, saw out the innings as Gambia finished on 112 for nine.
Patel returned impressive figures of four for 18 from four overs, while Monanthane took two for 17 and Farook claimed one for 13.
Lesotho began their reply confidently, with Leokaoke and Chachole Tlali adding 37 for the first wicket.
Gambia needed a breakthrough, and Conteh provided it when he had Leokaoke caught behind by Bah for 10.
Jarju then removed Tlali for 15, caught by Suwareh, leaving Lesotho on 39 for two.
The next few overs proved costly for Lesotho.
Patel was run out for nine, debutant Jabulani Matjatje fell lbw to Conteh without scoring, and Maaz Khan was caught by Faye off Jarju for two.
Lesotho had gone from 37 without loss to 51 for five, with Gambia suddenly sensing their chance.
Captain Ts’episo Chaoana was run out for seven before Conteh bowled Monanthane and Tanki Khetsi with successive deliveries in the 13th over.
At 65 for eight, Lesotho had lost eight wickets for just 28 runs, and Gambia appeared to have the match under control.
Farook had other ideas.
He batted aggressively despite the wickets falling around him and found some support from Mejaro, who helped him add 25 for the ninth wicket.
Demba eventually bowled Mejaro for six, leaving Lesotho on 90 for nine in the 19th over.
With 23 runs required from the final seven balls, Gambia were still favourites, but Farook was not finished.
He attacked Bah in the last over, bringing Lesotho to within one hit of victory before Khauta was run out attempting to keep the chase going.
Conteh finished with four for 24 from four overs, while Jarju’s two for 11 from four overs was another important contribution.
Demba took one for 12, and three run-outs added to Lesotho’s problems.
The win gave Gambia their first points of the competition after losing their opening four matches.
Lesotho finished their campaign with one victory from five games, having come agonisingly close to a second despite losing eight wickets for 28 runs.
Kenya’s Charles Kariuki and Botswana’s Justine Muzungu officiated the
