Kenya second, Benson bags gold as AST bowl tourney ends

Kenyan bowler Benson Kariuki needed only 12 ends to beat Zambian Mathew Mercer 21-2 to win the gold in the African States Tournament singles that wrapped off at Karen Country Club in Nairobi Saturday.

Having lost one match in the round robin, Benson knew he had to win his final singles against Botswana and Zambia.

The morning  session saw him win 21-4 against Botswana Regent Reid, edging closer to  gold. Benson credited his success to continuous training and practice.

“I lost in the pairs category so I shifted my focus to winning  the gold in singles since I had only lost one match, winning was vital in my last singles,”  he enthused after the award ceremony.

The Kenyan team emerged second overall with 29 points while South retained the gold medal they won back in 2017 having accumulated 36 points. Zimbabwe went home with the bronze with 28 points.

In other disciplines, Kenyan men team walked home with silver medal in pairs as well as bronze in the triples after a round robin play that bowled off  on Monday. The team led by team captain Cephas Kimwaki  also took home the bronze medal in the fours class after trouncing Botswana 22-11 in the morning session  and Zambia 25-9 in the afternoon session. South African came second while Zimbabwe took gold.

Despite a not so good play, the ladies team did not walk home empty handed as they excelled in the triples category winning a silver medal as South Africa took home gold and Botswana bronze.

The team also won a bronze medal in  the pairs behind South Africa and Botswana.

Kenyan team manager Bernard Ndungu praised  his players for their good game more so Benson who earned a gold medal for the country.

The tournament will be hosted by Namibia come 2021.

Overall results

South Africa 36 points

Kenya  29 points

Zimbambwe 28 points

Botswana 22 points

Namibia 16 points

Zambia 13 points