Charles Waiswa’s clinical display took Rwenzori Warriors to the brink of qualification for the East African Cup finals when he picked up 8 for 16 runs in his 10-over spell to lead his side to a 30-run victory against Cricket Tours Africa Nairobi Buffaloes at Nairobi Gymkhana on Sunday.
On a rainy day in Nairobi, the toss favoured the visitors who opted to bat first but never got going and only rode their innings on Roger Mukasa’s 43 runs before he was trapped leg before off the bowling of Pritesh Rabadia.
The Warriors managed 108 off their allotted 50 overs and it was another paceman, Gagandeep Singh who did the damage with the ball taking 6 for 26 to stop the Warriors in their tracks.
However, it was Waiswa who had the last laugh when he took eight of the ten wickets that fell in a brutal attack on the home side inside the first 19 overs unchanged opening spell from the left-hander. He swung the ball back beautifully on a wicket that offered a bit for the bowlers and was just too good for the Buffaloes batsmen.
They got the job done in 26.1 overs, the last wicket going to Jonathan Sebanja who got Lameck Onyango’s edge to be caught by the keeper, when the last pair had threatened to take the game away as they put together a 39-run partnership that helped steadied the ship from an unfamiliar spot of 39 for 9 wickets.
At Nairobi Club, Kongonis consolidated their final spot when they downed Nile Knights by 2 wickets D/L method. After posting 226 from 49.1 overs thanks largely to Benjamin Musoke’s 97, the Knights restricted the flow of runs for Kongonis despite efforts from Kennedy Obuya (64) and Rakep Patel (25).
The rains disrupted the innings and 11 overs were lost and the game became a 39-over affair, at the time Kongonis had made 132 for 2 off 31 overs and they were required to score 38 overs from 8 overs and Knights continued to press hard and they were rewarded with six more wickets with just 31 runs scored.
Seven runs were needed off two deliveries and number 10 batsman Emmanuel Ringera helped himself and Kongonis to a four and a six to snatch the game and the points for Kongonis which sealed their final spot.
In Nakuru, Rift Valley Rhinos were again too strong for Coast Pekee when they beat the coastal side by 8 wickets at the Rift Valley Sports Club. Mitesh Sanghani was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 10 runs off his 8.2 overs and Ibrahim Akello also chipped in with 3 for 13 runs.
Pekee registered only 63 runs which the Rhinos raced to in 15.3 overs, David Obuya contributing 25 of these as Rajesh Khetiya added a quick 24.
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