Franklyn Najjumba put the skids under the Kenyans © The Monitor

Namibia, Tanzania or hosts Uganda will go into the final day of the inaugural International Cricket Council Africa Women’s Twenty20 Championship with a chance of the title. But hosts Uganda are the favourites after their easy win over neighbours Kenya.

Opening bowlers Franklyn Najjumba (3 for 6) and Mackenzie Ayato almost settled the match in the eary overs as Kenya slid to 4 for 5, and in the evnt they did well to manage to crawl to 42. Uganda cruised to victory by seven wickets with seven overs to spare.

Uganda’s Net Run Rate is markedly better than second-placed Namibia. Uganda need a commanding win over Nigeria in the last fixture of the tournament to claim the title. If they fail then Namibia could still take the title if they thrash Kenya.

Kenya recovered from their loss to Tanzania to beat Sierra Leone by 10 wickets in the ongoing Africa Women’s tournament in Kampala, Uganda.

Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to bat and they never got going at all struggling at 8 for 5 early on but they fought hard to post 49. Mercyline Adhiambo was the pick of the bowlers picking up 3 for 4 and Man of the Match Sarah Bhakita, debutant Mako Wako and Emily Ruto picked two wickets apiece.

Kenya got off to a flying start and took only 14.5 overs to reach their target thanks to 23 runs apiece from openers Bhakita and Margaret Banja, who has been batting brilliantly since the event began last Friday.

Around the world, cricket is learned in the street, on the savannah, in schools, at clubs, on the beach. But regardless of the backdrop, the common denominator is youth. The first exposure to cricket is usually the province of the young, the pre-teens and teens.

As ever, things can be a little different in the New World.

Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club has a long history of cricket stretching back well over a century. But a different angle now emerges. As the name implies, TCSCC is more than just cricket (some would say far more), and the multi-sport backdrop has led to the “late-learning”.

For years, squash players, curlers, tennis players and rugby players have watched - often with varying degrees of bemusement - as cricket was played. There was always a passing interest. Little by little, the dormant interest was awakened. And, driven by a small group of committed organizers, an “Associates League” (read: non-cricketers) formed itself.

30-year-old nationally ranked squash players, 40 (50?) year old curlers. Golfers and rugby players. Ex-baseballers who know a thing or two about hitting ball with bat. All were welcomed. All welcomed the challenge. And all took to it, helped by one or two with accent strange enough to self-qualify as experts as well as ex-pats.

To the more trained eye, there’s often a baseball slant to things. But never mind the niceties, the ball still disappears with regularity through - and over - legside fields which were claimed to have been astutely set. Anyway, there’s always the ongoing encouragement to use all 360 degrees now available.

Running between the wickets? Judging semi-quick singles can present problems, but we all know it’s not only the inexperienced who have that particular problem. Backing up by the non-striker? “Got it. It’s like taking a lead-off at first base. Right!”

Field placing? It only takes a few games to understand one of the big differences with baseball: you’re not necessarily always in one position – the equivalent of left field, right field or shortstop. Fluidity replaces almost-static. Wicket keeping? Those with baseball catching experience adjust quickly – even if unfairly challenged by what some would consider to be too many wides. And the fitness addicts from the squash world can get their fix out on the boundary. Who ever heard of people actually wanting to run around in the outfield? And where did all that sliding stuff come from?

Keenness shows in attendance at nets – and heaven forbid that the “coaches” instill too much correctness into those with excellent eye/hand from other sporting fields. Experience at a high level in other sports means that many learn very quickly what’s needed. They readily absorb and adapt - especially after grasping what it feels like to sit for 19.2 overs watching everybody else bat!

Everything is all very social and the after-the-match scene is suitably well lubricated. Social, that is, until the play-offs come around when discussions abound about the numbers of fielders inside and outside the circle and about whether Person A’s arm is straight enough at delivery to be allowed in the cricketing context. But always the greater good wins out.

Toronto probably isn’t alone on the late-learning front. But there can’t be many other places where you can see 30, 40, 50 year-olds learning the game, generally having a ball and (yes!) improving.

And rumour has the next stop on the journey is a UK tour! Should be interesting. Steve Ferley

Tanzania women upset the formbook to go top of the Africa Cup by beating arch-rivals Kenya by nine runs at the Lugogo Cricket Oval in Kampala.

Tanzania won the toss, chose to bat and stayed on top of their opponents for much of the game. Opener Monica Pascal piled on 56 as Kenya looked ordinary in the field, and was ably assisted in the middle of the innings by Mwanaiddi Ibrahim, Hadija Hassan and Hawa Salum as they made 109 runs after 20 overs.

In reply, Kenya slumped to 17 for 3 but Margaret Banja’s firefighting 46 and Sarah Bakhita’s explosive 20 got them near the target but they fell nine runs short to hand the Tanzania’s a first win over Kenya since 2007.

A selection of the leading Associate and Affiliate players, led by Ireland captain William Porterfield, will get their chance to compete against England, the No. 1 Test team in the world, next month after it was confirmed they will form part of England's preparations for the Test series against Pakistan in the UAE.

ICC Combined AM XI William Porterfield (captain, Ireland), Saqib Ali (UAE), Kyle Coetzer (Scotland), George Dockrell (Ireland), Majid Haq (Scotland), Hamid Hassan (Afghanistan), Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), Boyd Rankin (Ireland), Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan), Paul Stirling (Ireland), Christi Viljoen (Namibia) and Craig Williams (Namibia)

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A charity appeal has been launched to build Rwanda their first cricket stadium. The appeal, supported by the MCC foundation, hopes to raise £400,000 to build the stadium by 2014. Rwanda currently has no adequate facilities for international cricket.

Cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in Rwanda and the new stadium will provide training facilities for all age groups as well as to host international matches. British Prime Minister David Cameron and broadcaster Jonathan Agnew have thrown their support behind the appeal.

Managing director of Rwanda cricket stadium foundation, Oli Broom, who completed a 13,670-mile solo charity cycle from London to Brisbane before the last Ashes series, said he excited about building a lasting home for Rwanda cricket. “I have spent a lot of the past two years discovering cricket in far flung corners of the world and have witnessed the educating and uniting influence it can be for children and adults.”

“Cricket has played an important role in Rwanda’s healing process post-genocide. Our focus is to build a stadium for all Rwandans, providing a home not only for the men’s and women’s national teams but also a facility enabling the development of the next generation of Rwandan cricketers,” said Broom.

"It is always heartening to hear of cricket spreading its roots to unfamiliar territory and bringing so much pleasure to new players and spectators,” said Agnew. “Given Rwanda's troubled past, I am sure cricket can play a strong role in bringing the people of Rwanda together."

Steve Massiah, the USA captain, has been charged by United States federal authorities in connection with an alleged $50 million mortgage fraud case. Robert Nardoza, public affairs officer with the United States Attorney's Office representing the Eastern District of New York, confirmed the charges to ESPNcricinfo. Massiah declined to comment when contacted by ESPNcricinfo on Sunday night and USACA officials said they had no knowledge of criminal charges against Massiah.

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Guernsey will host the 2012 ICC Europe coach development conference: “Player Potential to Performance”. It takes place in January with 26 coaches attending from 14 countries.

The conference provides a player-centred approach to coach development. The conference will take coaches on a journey from how to identify and nurture talented cricketers to implementing strength and conditioning programmes to support their development.

“The conference is about taking coaches on a journey and offering them an insight into key topics that face talented young players,” said Chris Porter, ICC Europe regional development officer. “The player pathway is always changing, however we need to ensure that coaches are in tune with the players and are able to support them during this journey.

“Overall it is great opportunity for coaches to meet the excellent presenters and other coaches to share ideas and experiences.”

Cricket in two African countries has benefitted from English generosity in the past month. The MCC has handed over a full set of nets and an artificial playing surface to the Sierra Leone Cricket Association. The equipment is going to be used in schools before being moved to the country’s indoor cricket academy, which is the process of being built.

Cricket is believed to be the fastest growing sport in Sierra Leone and recently secured a sponsor – telecommunications company Limeline. They have also had former South African Test batsman Peter Kirsten assisting them as a consultant.

The Sussex over-50s team also did their bit for cricket in Africa. They donated £10,000 worth of cricket equipment to the cricket association for development. The team also plans to tour the country in February next year with a 27-member squad. They aim to deepen their regular association with cricket in Gambia by fostering more cricket tourism and assisting financially.

Papua New Guinea have appointed former Australia cricketer Greg Campbell as their general manager. Campbell was previously operations manager at Cricket PNG and takes over from Bill Leane.

Campbell, 47, played four Test matches for Australia from 1989-1990 and will be in the role for the next 12 months. His first priority is to oversee the World Twenty20 qualifying matches in Dubai in March.

“The position was advertised globally and it is absolutely amazing that over 40 applicants expressed interest,” said the PNG chairman Mick Nades. “The board unanimously selected Greg because of his broad experience and the relationship he has developed with the staff, board, sponsors and the public at large with humility.

“The board strongly believes that he has the passion, talent and the drive to consolidate Cricket PNG's position in the world of cricket."

The ICC has shuffled its umpires panel for Associate and Affiliate cricket for 2012. Kenya’s David Odhiambo will replace Namibia’s Theunis van Schalkwyk, who has moved to South Africa and is under going training for the Full Member list.

The umpires on the Associate and Affiliate panel can be assigned to ODIs and T20Is involving Associate and Affiliate members as well as Under-19 and women’s international cricket.

“The umpires have performed credibly in the last year and the selectors are confident that this panel will continue to grow in stature,” said Vince van der Bijl, the ICC umpire and referees manager. “We wish Theunis well with his future career and his umpiring ambitions. We welcome David Odhiambo to the panel, who has performed well with dedication and skill. He joins a strong team and will enhance it.”

ICC Associate and Affiliate International Umpires’ Panel 2012
Jeff Luck (Namibia), David Odhiambo (Kenya), Roger Dill (Bermuda), Courtney Young (Cayman Islands), Buddhi Pradhan (Nepal), Sarika Prasad (Singapore), Shahul Hameed (Indonesia), Niels Bagh (Denmark), Mark Hawthorne (Ireland), Ian Ramage (Scotland), Richard Smith (Ireland)

Limavady, a club team in Ireland, escaped a complete ban from the Irish Senior Cup despite refusing to come out to field in the second half of a match against Instonians in June

The umpires abandoned the game and Limavady, near Londonderry, were thrown out of the competition.

But Cricket Ireland suspended their two-year ban from the tournament. They will be forced to play all their games away from home during that period.