T20 WCQ: Kenya's hopes hanging on thread after surprise Malawi defeat
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 28.09.25. | 20:10
Malawi, ranked 53rd in the world, found a way past experienced Kenya, who are 33rd, to leave them bottom of their group
Kenya men’s national cricket team sunk to one of their lowest levels on Sunday, 28 September after losing to Malawi by three runs in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers at the Takashinga Cricket Club in Zimbabwe.
Coming off a lackluster opening day defeat to Namibia, Kenya, led by Joseph Angara, produced another shocking performance as they went down to an inferior opponent for the first time in history, leaving them on the precipice of a group stage exit.
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Malawi, ranked 53rd in the world and viewed as the battering boys in Group A, won the toss and elected to bat, posting a manageable score of 130-4.
Kenya, ranked 33rd and been to six cricket World Cups, responded with 127 all out, leaving them winless, and with qualification destiny out of their hands.
Oh my, the Malawians have done it! Huge rankings boost for them!
— Cricket Global Fan (@cricketglobefan) September 28, 2025
If Nigeria defeat Kenya in the last game, they go to the SF.
Malawi need to defeat Namibia by a big margin for a chance to the SF.
Kenya only have a mathematical chance with other games going their way. https://t.co/Eymz63AiDK pic.twitter.com/gblmhcRsq2
Built up as a ‘big mountain’ to climb given their 50 over showing in Jersey and Zimbabwe shellacking in the warm up games, Kenya’s deficiencies on both sides of the ball were on show once again as they stumbled to a Malawi for the first time since crossing paths in September 2022.
Kenya’s bowling unit needed 11 overs to finally land a wicket on the opening pair of Aaftab Limdawala and Sami Sohail, who combined for 73, before seeing the scores balloon to 102 before Lucas Ndandason struck the second man.
In posting the 130, all Malawi batters bar Suhail Vayani - who was run out for a duck - posted double figures, a feat that could not be repeated by their Kenyan counterparts in a nerve-wracking second innings.
Kenya’s struggles with its openers continued for yet another afternoon as Dhiren Gondaria was taken out for seven in the third over, and while Neil Mugabe posted a decent score of 36 off 41 balls, failed to find consistency from majority of his teammates in the chase.
Former captain Rakep Patel established a proper partnership with him on his way to a 31-ball 46, and when the score looked to be imminently passed, a three-wicket haul in the last two overs hurt Kenya’s chances, leaving their hopes of making next year’s tournament on a thread.
With Sachin Gill and Sachin Bhudia dismissed for a paltry five combined in the 18th over, wickets flew with just eight runs needed from seven balls, as all of Ndandason, Vishil Patel and Vraj Patel were hit on their stamps.
Another soul crushing defeat leaves Kenya needing a miracle on the last day of the group stages on Tuesday, 30 September when they take on Nigeria.
Should Kenya make it into the semifinals, they will need their own big win, and cross their fingers that group leaders Namibia also do a demolition job on their surprise Sunday tormentors.
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