Kenyan women beat Uganda by four wickets
What you need to know:
- Banja played a captain’s innings, scoring unbeaten 48 runs that came off 67 deliveries with two fours. Banja was also Kenya’s highest runs getter.
Kenya women’s cricket team skipper, Margret Banja, on Saturday shone with the bat in the East Africa Regional Twenty20 tournament match at Sir Ali Muslim Club, Nairobi, in which the hosts beat Uganda by four wickets.
Banja played a captain’s innings, scoring unbeaten 48 runs that came off 67 deliveries with two fours. Banja was also Kenya’s highest runs getter.
Put in to bat first, Uganda set a target of 89 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Franklyne Najjamba top-scored for Uganda with 35 not out.
She shared a six wicket partnership of 61 with Rijah Musamali (22 not out off 30 balls. The duo were the only Ugandan batters who posted double digit figures on the scoreboard.
Vanesa Adhiambo (2/7), Mary Wambui (2/23) and Alice Muoke (1/15) were Kenya’s wicket takers.
In reply, Kenya reached the target, 89 with six wickets and four balls in hand. Wambui (10 off 23 balls) was the only other Kenyan batswoman who got meaningful runs.
Mary Apio (1/20) and Stephanie Nampima (1/20) took wickets for Uganda. There were four run outs. wickets were run outs.
Commenting on the performance of Kenya, team manager Lydia Kaparo said: “The girls started their innings on a slow pace until the 10th over when they accelerated the run rate.”
She added: “It was a good build up match for us as we prepare for the ICC Africa Women Twenty20 qualifiers set for Windhoek, Namibia from September 6 to 17."
