In the 2025 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final, Tanzania vs Kenya will square off in the third-place play-off, aiming to close their campaign on a positive note.
Although both sides missed out on the final, this match still carries pride, ranking, and momentum implications.
In this article, we look at the date, time, venue, team form, historical context, tactical considerations, likely playing elevens, and deliver a prediction.
Tanzania vs Kenya: Date, Time & Venue
- Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
- Time: 13:00 (1:00 PM local time, Harare)
- Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
The pitch at Harare Sports Club is known to offer a balanced surface—batters can score, but spinners may get some turn in the middle overs, and early seam movement is possible under helpful conditions.
Tournament Setting & Stakes
This third-place clash comes after both teams lost in the semi-finals. While the title is out of reach, finishing third would at least offer some consolation and momentum heading into future qualifiers.
For both sides, confidence and morale are also on the line: a win would validate their progress; a loss could highlight gaps.
Tanzania vs Kenya: Recent Form & Key Players
Tanzania
Tanzania entered this qualifier with modest expectations but showed fight. In their group stage and knockout matches, they delivered several notable performances.
- Arun Yadav has been a reliable top-order presence.
- Abhik Patwa has contributed vital middle-order stability.
- In bowling, Khalidy Juma has stood out, taking a good haul of wickets and controlling his economy.
- Ally Kimote has also chipped in with useful overs.
Their challenge will lie in maintaining consistency across all phases—batting deep and ensuring their bowlers can take wickets at key junctures.
Kenya
Kenya’s journey has been mixed—some strong performances, some lapses.
- Rakep Patel has carried much of the batting burden. His aggressive style makes him one to watch.
- Sachin Bhudia offers support and has shown glimpses of form.
- Among bowlers, Vraj Patel (five wickets in the tournament) is a key wicket-taking option.
- Dhiren Gondaria has also been used as a multi-role option in the attack.
Kenya’s success may hinge on whether they can spread the batting load beyond Patel and whether their bowlers can seize pressure moments.
Tanzania vs Kenya: Head-to-Head & Historical Context
In T20Is and African qualifier contexts, Tanzania and Kenya have clashed a few times.
Their head-to-head record is not extensive, but recent encounters suggest such matches are competitive.
Historically, Kenya has had more exposure and some success in African qualifiers and regional tournaments, while Tanzania is emerging as a developing side trying to build consistency.
This match thus pits experience (Kenya) against upward momentum (Tanzania).
Tanzania vs Kenya: Tactical Analysis & Match Scenarios
Bat First vs Chase
Given the surface, batting first might be slightly advantageous—set a solid total and put scoreboard pressure on the chasing side.
But chasing teams have succeeded at Harare when they pace their innings well and manage spin wisely.
If Tanzania bats first, they might aim for 170–190, possibly even pushing closer to 200 if conditions allow.
Kenya, chasing, would need a good start and someone to anchor in the middle overs while chasing control of spin overs.
Key Battles
- Rakep Patel vs Tanzania’s spinners: If Tanzania uses spin effectively, they must challenge Patel early to prevent him from taking control.
- Arun Yadav & Patwa vs Kenya’s attack: If Tanzania can weather early blows and build a platform, their middle order will be crucial.
- Death overs bowling: Both sides must have reliable options in overs 16–20 to either defend or close down the runs.
Tanzania vs Kenya: Prediction
Given Tanzania’s momentum and balanced team contributions, they enter as slight favorites.
Kenya’s batting has often depended heavily on one or two players, which could be a vulnerability.
If Tanzania’s bowlers maintain discipline and their top and middle order click, they should edge this match.
Prediction: Tanzania wins and secures third place.
But cricket being unpredictable, a strong performance from Patel or an inspired spell by a Kenyan bowler can still turn things around.
Tanzania vs Kenya: Probable 11s Summary
| Team | Probable XI |
|---|---|
| Tanzania | Arun Yadav; Abhik Patwa; Ajith Augastin; Amal Rajeevan (w); Mukesh Suthar; Kassim Nassoro (c); Salum Jumbe; Ally Kimote; Sivaraj Selvaraj; Khalidy Juma; Laksh Bakrania |
| Kenya | Dhiren Gondaria (c); Lucas Ndandason; Pushkar Sharma; Nitish Hirani; Vraj Patel; Rakep Patel; Sachin Gill; Sukhdeep Singh (w); Sachin Bhudia; Peter Langat; Jasraj Kundi |
FAQ’s
What is the format of this match?
It is a T20 (Twenty20) match, part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final, played as a 20-overs per side contest.
Does the third-place play-off affect tournament qualification?
While the title is no longer at stake, finishing third may impact rankings, morale, and future seedings, though it does not directly lead to World Cup qualification in this stage.
Who has been the top performer for Kenya in this tournament?
Rakep Patel has been the standout, contributing heavily to Kenya’s batting totals.
What kind of pitch should players expect at Harare Sports Club?
A balanced pitch: decent for batting, with potential for spin to play a role in middle overs and some assistance for seamers early on.
Is batting first a better option at Harare in this tournament?
In many matches at Harare in similar tournaments, batting first has offered a slight advantage due to scoreboard pressure and the chance to set a target.