Four wickets! Kenya beat Uganda in T20 qualifiers
What you need to know:
- Kenya will face Rwanda at the same venue on Sunday.
Kenya’s opening batsman Dhiren Gondaria on Saturday blasted a quick half a century as Kenya beat Uganda by four wickets in the Africa Eastern sub-region Four-Nation Twenty20 qualifiers at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda.
Gondaria’s 90 runs came off 46 deliveries with five boundaries and seven sixes. Gondaria, who was Kenya’s highest runs getter, was named player-of-the-match after his explosive display.
Put in to bat first, Uganda set a target of 241 for the loss of three wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Dinesh Nakrani, who was unbeaten on 88 that came off 42 balls with eight boundaries and six sixes, top-scored for Uganda.
Dinesh shared an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 167 runs with Riazat Ali Shah, who was 74 not out that came off 35 balls with eight boundaries and two sixes, the best stand for Uganda.
Roger Mukasa (25 off 13 balls with a boundary and three sixes), Hamu Kayondo (26 off 14 balls with three boundaries and a six) and Ronak Patel (19 off 16 balls with two boundaries and a six) were the other batsmen who contributed meaningful runs for Uganda.
Kenya’s wicket were shared among Pushpak Kerai (1/30), Emmanuel Bundi (1/47) and Lucas Oluoch (1/44).
In reply, Kenya reached the target, 241 with four wickets and three balls in hand. Gondaria gave Kenya a flying start with an opening stand of 75 that he shared with Alex Obanda (35 off 17 balls with six boundaries and two sixes).
The partnership was broken when Obanda was caught by Ronak Patel off the bowling of Mohammed Irfan (1/33).
Rakep Patel (31 off 20 balls with three boundaries and two sixes), Collins Obuya (29 off 12 balls with four sixes), Shem Ngoche, who was unbeaten on 25 that came off 11 balls with a six) and Lucas Oluoch (15 off 12 balls with a boundary and a six) were the Kenyans men who shone with the bat.
Dinesh (2/57) was Uganda’s highest wicket taker. Charles Waiswa (1/28) and Bilal Hassun (1/49) were the other wicket takers.
Kenya will face Rwanda at the same venue on Sunday.
