Rwenzori Warriors’ unbeaten run in the East Africa Premier League came to an end at the hands of the Rift Valley Rhinos in a game played today at Kyambogo Cricket Oval. The main undoing of the Warriors was the superb catching of the Rhinos led by Joseph Angara who took 3 brilliant catches. He also went on to pick 3 wickets including the one of hard hitting Ali Raza. There was some resistance from opening batsman Roger Mukasa with a not so aggressive 32.
The Warriors were on the back foot right from the onset with Peter Ongondo steaming in from the University end and Ibrahim Akello from the Jinja Road End. Ibrahim Akello had opening batsman Shehzad Kamal clean bowled with his first delivery with the score at 9 runs, on a wicket that favored the seamers. Only 2 batsmen managed to score double figures with the second coming later on in the innings by Jeremy Kibuuka Musoke (11). The Warriors managed a paltry 93 runs in 19.3overs.
With the Rhinos requiring 94 runs to win in their allotted 20 overs, the batsmen started off cautiously with Charles Waiswa steaming in from the Jinja Road End and offering no room for the batsmen to score. Brian Masaba had Joseph Onyango caught behind with the score at 6 runs. 14 runs later, David Obuya was trapped LBW by Brian Masaba, which created more pressure on the Rhinos’ Side. However, Harish Vekaria steadied the ship with an aggressive 28 before he was caught by Roger Mukasa off the bowling of Ali Raza. The game was finished off in style with 2 overs to spare by Ramesh Mepani who hit a 4 to deep mid wicket. The Rwenzori Warriors still maintain the top spot on the points table with 26 points closely followed by Nile Knights with 22.
At the other venue in Kampala, Nile Knights beat the Nairobi Buffaloes by 33 runs at Lugogo Oval, thanks to an aggressive 32 from Benjamin Musoke assisted by Frank Nsubuga (27). The Knights piled on 140 for 9 from 20 overs.
The pick of the Buffaloes’ bowlers was Collin Obuya who picked 4 wickets for 20 runs in 3 overs and also top scored with 30 as the Buffaloes batsmen failed to impress.
Frank Nsubuga 3 for 17 and Daniel Ruyange 3 for 25 ensured the home side carried the day in an eight-over fiery spell between the pair.
Elsewhere, Kongonis defeated Coast Pekee by 5 wickets on Saturday after the home side won the toss and elected to bat first and being dismissed for 116.
On Sunday, all the matches fell victims to the rains, In Kampala not even a ball was bowled and in Mombasa the encounter was disrupted 33 overs in to the game and never resumed.
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