Kenya Ladies Juniors off to Tanzania

Cricket Kenya has named National Ladies Junior side for the inaugural Africa Junior Championships that was due to get underway on Sunday in Dar Salaam, Tanzania.

Emily Ruto will lead the 13 woman squad which also includes Ruth Mwihaki, Pearlyne Omamo and Maria Aimee all of whom have international experience.

The three alongside Ruto are members of the national senior team and are expected to offer experience in the side that is full of uncapped players.

The team leaves the country today for the tournament that will also include Rwanda, Uganda , Zambia and hosts Tanzania .

Kenya opens their campaign against Uganda in a 30 overs match at Anadil Burhani before taking on the hosts the following day.

On 24th November, the team will play Rwanda before winding up their campaign against Zambia two days later.

It will be the first time Zambia will be taking part an international tournament while Rwanda will be making their second appearance in international arena.

Ruto said she is confident the team will do well despite having a large number of inexperienced players in the side. “It will be a big tournament for and the other three experienced players in the side. We will have to ensure that we give our best so that the new players learn from us and get confidence,” she said.

Omamo who is currently enjoying a good form with the bat in the ongoing Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) league is expected to lead the team’s batting according to the captain.

“She is in a good form and I hope she will carry her form to Tanzania. If she does that then I am full of confidence we will emerge victorious. However Mwihaki and Aimee are also capable of doing well too and I also hope they do well,” she said.

Mwihaki is enjoying a good form too with 65 runs in two matches in the league.

The team has been training at Ruaraka Sports Club under Dun Okinyo and has held various trial matches which also involved players from Nakuru working under Cricket Kenya Development Programme.

Ruth Ambiyo who started playing cricket early this year in Nakuru has also been selected same to Mildred Sambu and Cecilia Ouko from St.Teresa’s Girls and Kenya High respectively.

Others in the team are Faith Kingi, Sylvia Wairimu, Evelyne Kavata, Honorina Wali, Eunice Nekesa and Evelyne Achieng.

Report taken from Cricket Kenya website. Great to see the development program in Nakuru bearing fruit. Good luck to the girls - hope they can upset Uganda and Tanzania and come back winners!