Mozambique Beat Gambia by 28 Runs — Agostinho Navicha's 61 Not Out Rescues 84 for 6

Agostinho Navicha's first innings of the tournament lasted one ball: bowled by Malei Khauta against Lesotho. His second was the reason Mozambique won. They had chosen to bat on Oval 1 and lost Joao Hou to the first ball of the match, caught behind off Abubacarr Kuyateh, and Lourenco Salomone in the second over. Jose Bulele and Vieira Tembo added 49, but three wickets fell for ten runs and Mozambique were 84 for 6 in the 14th over. Navicha and Camate Roposo then put on 64 unbroken from 41 balls, Navicha's 61 not out from 31 with six fours and three sixes, and Mozambique made 148 for 6.

Gambia were 39 for 1 in the sixth over, and then Charles Mbebe had Muhammed Manga caught and Frank Campbell lbw in the same over. Tembo took three wickets in the middle, and although David Demba hit three sixes in an unbeaten 45 from 29 balls, Gambia finished on 120 for 8. Mozambique won by 28 runs.

When Navicha came in, Mozambique had wasted a good deal of their toss. Bulele had batted 38 balls for 18, holding an end while Tembo's 32 from 22 provided the runs, and then Bulele, Tembo and Gomes Gomes went in the space of eight balls. Navicha's response was to attack: 64 runs came from the last 41 balls of the innings with Roposo, a steady presence at the other end with 8 not out. That is what a seventh-wicket stand in a T20 is for, and it turned a below-par total into one Gambia never looked like reaching.

The bowling was shared well. Mbebe's 4-0-14-2 broke the one stand Gambia had, Tembo followed his 3 for 21 against Lesotho with 3 for 27, bowling Modou Bojang and Pa Assan Faye, and Bulele's three overs cost nine with a maiden. Simango, Roposo and Joao Hou each struck too. Mozambique's bowlers conceded eight extras; Gambia's gave away 17.

For 13 overs this was Gambia's game. Kuyateh struck with the first ball, bowled four overs for 15 and held three catches; Musa Jobarteh took a return catch to remove Salomone; Andre Jarju took Bulele and Tembo in the 13th over to start the slide to 84 for 6. But Gambia gave away 17 extras, and the last 41 balls went for 64.

The chase needed someone to stay with Demba. Campbell's 23 from 16 promised it before Mbebe's lbw, and Andre Jarju made 14, but from 80 for 5 Modou Bojang, Pa Assan Faye and Jobarteh made six between them. Demba's 45 not out, with three sixes, was a fine innings that never had the company it needed.

Gomes Gomes was caught off Demba in the 14th over, and Mozambique were 84 for 6 with 41 balls left. Gambia, after a heavy defeat to Nigeria the day before, could see a first win in front of them. Then Navicha, a batter who had faced one ball in the tournament, decided the remaining 41 belonged to him. A day earlier he walked off with nothing; here he walked off with the match. Cricket gives these turns of fortune more readily than most games, and it rarely gives them so quickly.

This match didn't have a CricIntel preview — we'll have full analysis for the next encounter.

Mozambique have one win and one defeat, level with Lesotho, behind Nigeria and Uganda on two wins each. Gambia, beaten by Nigeria on the opening day, are still without a win, as are Zambia. The round robin runs until October 25; Mozambique still play Uganda, Nigeria and Zambia, and Gambia still play Uganda, Lesotho and Zambia.