Vinod Rabadia’s unbeaten 70 ensured Kanbis Tigers sailed into the semi-final of the East African Cup after a nail-biting finish against last year’s runner-up Knights of Uganda at the Nairobi Gymkhana.
Rabadia’s knock came from 63 deliveries and included four fours and a similar number of sixes. He came in with Tigers struggling at 61 for 4 and partnered briefly with Narendra Patel (29) in a 6th wicket stand of 46 before the latter fell to Richard Okia courtesy of a brilliant catch by veteran Benjamin Musoke’s dive at covers.
Batsmen came and went with the game swinging the Knights way ever more closely but Rabadia failed to heed to the pressure and combined well with Lucas Oluoch (23) for an unbeaten match winning 10th wicket partnership of 61 to see the home team through and send the crowd into delirium with a lofted smash over the long-off boundary of Benjamin Musoke.
The win made certain that the Tigers stay alive in both competitions with the semi-finals against Kongonis in the Twenty20 and Warriors in the 50-over.
Earlier on Okia’s 45 had guided Uganda’s Knights to 204 all out after the top-order had failed to capitalize on their starts. Dishant Mehta picked 3 for 41 to check the top-order and ensured Knights ended with a chasable target.
Dennis Tabby was however the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 36 but man of the match belonged to Rabadia for his heroics
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