Despite pushing Kenya hard, Rwanda suffered a defeat In the going start to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier when they lost by 17 runs in Windhoek on Wednesday.
Kenya had been inserted to bat first, and the evergreen Collins Obuya helped himself to the first half-century of the week.
Three sixes and four boundaries saw him rattle along to 50 off 47 balls, before leaving the stage for Irfan Karim. He hammered 63 not out from just 43 balls, peppered with five boundaries and one maximum. That saw Kenya reach a total of 154 for two.
In reply, Rwanda made a very promising start. Orchide Tuyisenge (56 from 44 balls) and Eric Dusingizimana (23) added 69 for the first wicket before the former was stumped off Pushkar Sharma.
Martin Akayezu then hammered an incredible four sixes in a nine-ball stay that made 30, before he was tragically run out by the alert Collins Obuya.
Had he stayed at the crease for much longer, things may have ended very differently. But, without his power, Rwanda limped home, and fell 17 runs short of their target.
In the other games, Namibia made a strong start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Windhoek on Wednesday, with a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe at the Wanderers Cricket Ground.
Nikolaas Davin clattered 89 from just 45 balls, as Namibia chased down their target of 133 with 32 balls to spare. There were four sixes and 10 boundaries in Davin’s whirlwind knock, which thrilled locals and brought the qualifier to life on the opening day.
Davin also shared a brutal, 88-run opening stand with Michael van Lingen (30 from 20 balls), to snuff out any hopes of a Zimbabwe victory.
Earlier, JJ Smit had helped himself to three for 24 as the hosts kept Zimbabwe to 132 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. The experienced Craig Ervine (36 from 33 balls) and Ryan Burl (27 not out) tried to give Zimbabwe something to bowl at, but wickets fell at regular intervals.
In morning action at the Wanderers Cricket Club, Uganda cruised to an eight-wicket triumph after winning the toss and opting to bowl against Tanzania. Alpesh Ravilal’s three for 26 from four smart overs kept the Tanzanian effort in check, while Riazat Ali Shah (two for 14) continued the new-ball form that saw Uganda into this regional final.
Tanzanian skipper Abhik Patwa (20) hit a four and a six to briefly threaten, but the only other contribution came from Sanjay Kumar Thakor, whose 22 not out at the end very nearly saw them to three figures.
Ali Shah then hammered three sixes, on his way to 47 not out, as he and Simon Ssesazi (31 not out) combined for an unbroken, 74-run alliance for the third wicket. That saw Uganda home with 28 balls to spare, as they made a bright start to their week in Windhoek.
Score:
Kenya v Rwanda
Rwanda won the toss and elected to bowl
Kenya 154 for two in 20 overs (I Karim 63 not out, C Obuya 50)
Rwanda 137 for four in 20 overs (O Tuyisenge 56, M Akayezu 30, P Kumar one for 19)
