Warriors downed Kongonis in a dominant display to claim their first ever Twenty20 crown in the final of the East Africa Premier League match played at Nairobi Gymkhana.
Winning the toss and bowling fast the Warriors ensured tight spells from their opening bowlers restricted Kongonis flow of runs. Dangerman Alex Obanda was cleaned up by Charles Waiswa for 11 with the scores on 19. Left-arm spinner Henry Senyondo then claimed two further scalps in the top order by removing William Rudd and Shem Ngoche on 18 and a single run respectively to leave the side in danger of a collapse.
65 for 3 soon became 68 for 5 and any hopes of a formidable total had long disappeared by the time youngster Emmanuel Bundi (19) and Elijah Otieno (29) came together at the crease. They gave the innings some impetus but the damage had already been done earlier on. The latter, the more successful one scoring four boundaries in the process while the former using 15 deliveries including a six and a four in his stay at the crease.
In reply, Warriors lost dependable batsman Steve Tikolo (7) earlier on when he tried to clear the infield only succeeding in finding the waiting hands of Collins Obuya at mid-off and the game should have been a nail biting finish if Kennedy Owino had been at his sharpest, the youngster was guilty of spilling and missing important collections behind the stumps and looking out of sorts before Nicholas Oluoch put him out of his misery mid-way through the innings.
A second wicket partnership of 41 between Roger Mukasa (25) and Arnold Otwan (14) threatened to take the game away from the Kenyans only for the Ugandans to make heavy weather of a seemingly comfortable chase thanks largely to a few panic run outs that had Henry Rudd’s contribution in them.
Bundi was in inspired form claiming 2 for 19 in his four over spell while Ngoche and Henry picked a wicket each. Paceman Waiswa hit the winning runs as the away team celebrated their victory to the disappointment of the home fans.
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