Having lost out the number one slot to Nairobi, Rift Valley and Coast took the stage to decide who is better than other. As expected Rift Valley who were win the event due to their balanced side came out on top but not without any fight.
Unlike the other matches which were characterized by low scores, the last match of the tournament was entertaining and explosive with both teams scoring centuries before the winner was decided by the last ball.
Chasing 107, Coast were poised to register their first win but a maiden in the 18th over by Janet Kipsang turned the game to Rift Valley’s side and they didn’t not fail winning by one run
After opting to bat first, Rift Valley struggled initially as they lost their top 3 players in first 5 overs with scores on 9. But a half century (54 not out) from wicket keeper Jane Achieng led their team to a resounding total of 107 for the loss of 6 wickets. Achieng who had totaled 36 in five innings used 58 balls to score her highest score ever.
She put on a 46 runs stand for the sixth wicket with Faith Mwende that got the scores to 103.
Achieng hit six boundaries and also shared a stand of 45 runs with Daisy Wairimu that got the scores to 56.
Young Edith Wanjiru had put Rift in danger with two quick wickets leaving them on five for 2. She clean bowled Mako Wako and Quinta Aoko for a duck and three respectively.
She later on added the wickets on her tally by getting Wairimu and Mwende to finish with 4 for 17.
The other wicket taker was Rose Awuor who clean bowled Salome Mgoi.
In reply, Coast was on the driving seat soon after Sharon Odera and Caroline Nduku put on a tournament record stand of 95 for the second wicket.
The two kept cool throughout their stay on the wicket and seemed to see their team through until when Kipsang bowled a maiden to Nduku. This piled pressure and with runs drying up, Nduku tried to get a second run off Odera’s drive but Cynthia Samba uprooted the stumps to the jubilation of many.
With nine needed of 12 balls, Wairimu conceded four runs of her over. Kipsang kept it cool despite Elizabeth Akinyi’s attack on her and conceded seven runs and a run out of the last ball when Odera tried to squeeze two to level the scores.
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