The third-place playoff of the 2025 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Division 2 Qualifier between Botswana Women and Malawi Women is set to take place at the Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1 in Gaborone on July 26, 2025. While both teams narrowly missed qualification to the final, this playoff represents a significant contest, as finishing higher in the tournament can influence their ICC rankings and boost team morale heading into future qualification campaigns.
Both squads showed competitiveness and skill during the group stages, making this an anticipated clash for African women’s cricket. Malawi Women, bounced back from early setbacks to secure crucial wins, including a dominant victory over Lesotho Women. Botswana, led by strong performances from Laura Mophakedi and Goabilwe Matome, brings depth in bowling and a balanced batting line-up.
Squads:
Botswana Women’s Cricket Team
Aliya Motorwala, Goabilwe Matome, Oratile Kgeresi, Pako Mapotsane, Tlhalefo B Godisamanga, Amantle Mokgotlhe, Merapelo Phiase, Onneile Keitsemang, Tuelo Shadrack, Wendy Moutswi, Laura Mophakedi, Goitseone Setshwane, Kesego Inakale, Maatla Sefati
Malawi Women’s Cricket Team
Alinafe Alfonso, Euless Chilarile, Febbe Malefula, Sophina Chinawa, Triphonia Luka, Esther Richard, Lidia Dimba, Sugeni Kananji, Tadala Mpandakwaya, Praise Maziya, Christina Bwanali, Eva Kabwere, Ketrina Chingaipe, Lucy Malino
Players to watch out:
Laura Mophakedi
Laura Mophakedi is the captain and wicket-keeper batter of the Botswana women’s national cricket team. She is Botswana’s most prolific T20I batter, with over 1,000 runs to her name (1126 runs), and plays a crucial leadership role in the team’s continued development and presence on the African women’s cricket scene. In her recent outing against Eswatini Women, she scored a half-century (54) and is a key asset.
Wendy Moutswi
Wendy Moutswi is known for her role as a right-arm medium pace bowler and a lower-order right-handed batter. While primarily valued for her bowling, she has also contributed with the bat in key moments. In 26 T20Is, she has scored 108 runs with the bat and has picked up 14 wickets with the ball and her performances help strengthen Botswana’s bowling attack.
Praise Maziya
Praise Maziya is a promising bowler for Malawi Women, featuring in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup African Qualifiers Division II, 2025. In the tournament so far, she has scored 51 runs with the bat and has also picked 2 wickets with the ball which shows her contribution in both the departments of the game. Her recent performances highlight her as a key batter and bowler for Malawi.
Lidia Dimba
Lidia Dimba is a right-handed batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler for Malawi Women. In WT20Is, she has played 20 matches, scoring 310 runs at an average of 18.23, with the top score of 74* and a strike rate of 81.57. With the ball, she has taken 16 wickets in 17 innings at an average of 17.31 and an economy rate of 4.78, with best figures of 3/15. In the tournament so far, she has scored 69 runs with the bat and has also picked up 3 wickets with the ball.
Pitch:
The pitch at Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1 in Gaborone offers consistent bounce and early movement for seamers, making it a favorable surface for bowlers, especially early in the game. As the match progresses, spinners also come into play with some turn, and batting becomes more challenging.
Weather:
Conditions at Oval 1 in Gaborone are expected to be mostly dry and warm with a high around 26°C during the day, cooler in the evening near 6°C, with light winds, very low chance of rain, and comfortable humidity.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Lidia Dimba, Sugeni Kananji, Praise Maziya, Christina Bwanali, Eva Kabwere, Lucy Malino, Goabilwe Matome, Merapelo Phiase, Laura Mophakedi, Tuelo Shadrack, Wendy Moutswi
Match Details:
Date – July 26, 2025
Time – 1:00 PM IST
Venue – Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1, Gaborone
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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