Uganda’s unbeaten start to the ILT20 Cup came to an abrupt end on Saturday as Kenya produced a commanding batting display to defeat the defending champions by eight wickets at Gahanga B Ground in Kigali, Rwanda.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Kenya successfully restricted Uganda to 189/6 in 20 overs before chasing down the target with 193/2, completing a comprehensive victory.
Uganda, unchanged from the side that defeated hosts Rwanda, endured an unsettled start after losing Robinson Obuya and Anas Baig early.
Charles Mushemeza steadied the innings with 30 before Gerald Olipa took charge, striking his second half-century of the tournament with a valuable 53.
Captain Riazat Ali Shah (45) and vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa (37 not out) then supplied the late impetus, pushing Uganda towards a competitive total of 189.
Kenya, however, made light work of the chase.
Rush Patel was the only Kenyan wicket Uganda claimed early, after which Rakep Patel and Dhiren Gondaria took complete control of proceedings.
The pair dismantled the Cricket Cranes’ bowling attack with a devastating 119-run partnership, finding boundaries across the Gahanga B ground and leaving Uganda’s bowlers with few answers.
Uganda also made life harder for themselves by putting down several chances in the field, opportunities that ultimately proved costly as Kenya raced to victory.
The result ends Uganda’s recent dominance in the fixture, with the Cricket Cranes having enjoyed the upper hand over Kenya since 2023.
For Uganda, the defeat serves as an important reality check after an unbeaten opening stretch, while Kenya’s performance underlined that their current ranking does not reflect the quality still available in their squad, particularly in Patel and Gondaria.
The victory also earns Kenya valuable ranking points for defeating the world No. 22-ranked Uganda, adding further significance to their tournament campaign.
The Cricket Cranes now have a rest day on Sunday before returning to action on Monday, when they will look to respond to their first setback of the competition.
