Rwenzori Warriors showed they are not just challenging for cricket's East
africa Premier League Twenty20 title, when they followed up on Saturday's
five-run victory over Nairobi's Kongonis CC by beating them in the
longer 50-over cup version.
Warriors bowled out Kongonis for just 72 after a late start on Sunday
because of rain at Kyambogo Oval, then replied with 73/3 in a match
televised live by SuperSport TV. With this victory, they go top of the EAC
table as well as of the EAPL.
Three bowlers bagged three wickets apiece: Charles Waiswa 3-17, Brian Masaba
3-25 and Man of the match Roger Mukasa 3-7.
The game could not have started more excitingly for the TV cameras as
Waiswa, steaming in from the Jinja Road end, had Kenya international opener
Seren Waters caught off the first ball of the game by Masaba at slip. Three
balls later and Gordon Brown was back in the pavilion, bowled, and Kongonis
were on the ropes at 0/2.
A third wicket, also to Waiswa, fell on 20 when Waters' opening partner,
captain Rakep Patel, played on. Abdul Rehman and Chris Childs took the score
carefully to 57 before Rehman was lbw to Masaba; then wicketkeeper Nicholas
Oluoch followed for three on 68, Dominic Wesonga went next ball for 0 and
Childs on 70/7, bowled by Masaba.for 24. Dhiren Gondaria, Emmanuel Bundi and
Martin Okoth managed just two runs between them as the Kongonis' innings
fell to bits.
Warriors' victory did not come without mishaps as two batsmen, Abu Seguya
(8) and Mohammed Shafeek (13) were run out and Mukasa bowled for 18. But it
was achieved with ease and with it came four cup points and a shared place
at the top of the table with Kongonis, whom they meet again in Nairobi at
the weekend.
Saturday's batting hero Shahzad Kemal (12 not out) and captain Lawrence
Sematimba (12) were on hand to steer Warriors over the line to secure a
seven-wicket victory and bring a glow to the TV cameras.
At Entebbe, in another EAC game held up by rain, Nile Knights scored 178/6
in 38 overs beating Coast Pekee 100/10 in 34 overs by 78 runs. Pick of the
Knights was Fred Isabirye who top scored with 36 Not Out. Martin Suji's side had
secured a ten wicket victory in the EAPL on Saturday, when Arthur Kyobe
scored 64 runs off 28 balls in pursuit of Coast Pekee's score of 90.
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