Kenya 156/5 Uganda 137/10
Many hearts of the fair crowd that turned up for the decider at Lugogo Oval were left in a sorry state as team Kenya defeated hosts Uganda by 19 runs to win the Pepsi ICC Africa Division One T20 World Cup qualifiers’ tournament on Friday morning.
That result ensured that Kenya revenged to the 30-run loss in the opener six days ago at Kyambogo and won the tournament on a better Net Run Rate (NRR).
But Kenyan captain Collins Obuya had hardly thought of such end results. “I did not see it coming,” he said.
“We just kept on winning all our games and the trophy came along. Last time, we relaxed but this time round, we did not give the Ugandans any chance.”
From the start, it looked like the odds were not on Uganda’s side and luckily, Obuya won the toss and opted to bat.
Their opening partnership of Alex Obanda (64 off 48, three fours and three sixes) and Rakep Patel (16 off 22) was broken early after 3.3 overs when the latter was caught behind by wicket keeper Lawrence Ssematimba off Daniel Ruyange (1/15).
While on 35, Obanda was dropped by Arthur Kyobe at mid-on off skipper Davis Karashani delivery (0/37) at the end of the ninth over.
“Had we got him out (Obanda) then, then that would have changed our game,” Karashani said. “All in all we did well until today. I hope we learn from our mistakes.”
Obanda added 29 runs before he was caught at long on by Roger Mukasa off Deus Muhumuza’s bowling (1/10) with 20 balls left.
Irfan Karim, also caught at long on by Mukasa off Frank Nsubuga (1/29) at 18.0 overs, scored 12 runs off six while Obuya, in for Obanda at no. 4 for Morris Ouma (6 off 14), got 40 off 23 balls (five fours and a six) before Brian Masaba caught him at mid-on off Charles Waiswa (1/27) with seven balls to go.
Nonetheless, the Kenyans had piled 156-5, a score they bowled out Uganda for in 19.2 overs.
There were changes in the batting order, a move that failed to strike the right codes which cost the side in their own backyard.
Openers Kyobe (five off six) returned for an early shower after he was caught by Obuya at mid-on after two overs while Mukasa (10 off 16) was caught behind by wicket keeper Ouma off Lucas Olouch (2/25) which left Uganda at 33-2 after 3.3 overs.
Ssematimba (20 off 23) and Muhumuza (22 off 16) had tried to put up some resistance but were bowled by James Ngoche (3/18) and caught by Aga Ragheb off Hiren Varaiya (2/26).
There wasn’t much significance on the score board from the others in the mid-order as Obuya picked figures of 2/19.
The tail-end tried to put the side back in contention but could catch up with the seemingly ponderous target.
Masaba, in at no.10 for Jonathan Sebanja (11 off 5) scored an unbeaten 15 off 14 including a four and a six while last batsman Henry Senyondo added 15 off 12 but it could not stop Uganda from being scathed.
Like expected the winner-takes-it-all clash brought out the rivalry both on the oval and in the stands as fans cheered on both teams.
FINAL TABLE STANDINGS
P W L N Pts NRR
1. KENYA 8 7 1 0 14 2.517
2. UGANDA 8 7 1 0 14 1.784
3. TANZANIA 8 3 5 0 6 -1.397
4. BOTSWANA 8 2 6 0 4 -0.978
5. NIGERIA 8 1 7 0 2 -2.019