Kenya inflicts first defeat on Cricket Cranes at ILT20 Cup

• Game 4: ILT20 Cup, Kigali, Rwanda
• Result: Kenya 193/2 beat Uganda 189/6 by 8 wickets

Kenya stopped Uganda’s unbeaten run at the ILT20 with a thumping eight-wicket win against the defending champions.

Kenya won the toss and elected to bowl first, confident that they had it in them to chase down any total.

The Cricket Cranes kept faith in the playing XI that won against hosts Rwanda.

Robinson Obuya and Anas Baig departed early, but Charles Mushemeza (30) and a second half-century of the tournament for Gerald Olipa (53) settled the ship.

Captain Riazat Ali Shah (45) and his vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa (37 not out) provided the firepower at the back end to help their side reach 189/7 in their 20 overs.

In the run chase, the only reward for Uganda was the wicket of Rush Patel early on because from then on, it was a Rakep Patel and Dhiren Gondaria show. The two put on a partnership of 119 runs, plundering the ball to all corners of the Gahanga B ground with none of the bowlers spared.

The Cricket Cranes never helped themselves with a few chances put down in the field, and that played in Kenya’s favour.

Uganda has had the upper hand in this fixture for a while since 2023, but this was a good reality check for the Cricket Cranes to stay grounded. Kenya might be low in the rankings, but they haven’t lost any of their class, especially with batters such as Rakep Patel and Dhiren Ghondaria still available for them.

Kenya also won some precious ranking points for defeating a team ranked 22nd in the world to complement the tournament win.

The Cricket Cranes take a break tomorrow and will be back in action on Monday.

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