Continent Cup T20: Collins Obuya stars as Kenya power to comfortable win over Uganda

A hugely impressive 96 runs from former skipper Collins Obuya set up a convincing 88 run victory as Kenya put up 185 for 3 in their second match of the Continent Cup T20- Africa tournament against Uganda at the Nairobi Gymkhana Grounds in Nairobi.

The total, instigated largely by the game's man of the match, was the highest in the competition that was entering its second day on Saturday.

So dominating was Kenya's performance that they only dropped three wickets on the day, Nelson Odhiambo being the only man to go below double digits in the annihilation.

Even from Obuya's admission, the win was a Kenyan masterclass on both ends - the duo of Shem Ngoche and Vraj Patel icing the cake with four wickets each.

Visiting Uganda could have done with a better start, as Ngoche took no time to announce himself to the sizeable crowd with a lovely ball to opener Simon Ssesazi.

Once it lifted up in the air, he was halfway off the grounds, with Collins Obuya at hand with the easy pickings for the first Kenyan wicket. Four balls was all it took. 

The other opener- Roger Mukasa - then dared to create a partnership with the incoming Alpesh Ramjani - marginally going over a run rate of 10 in the ensuing five overs.

You could hear groans amongst the Kenyan fans - who had witnessed their team brave a rough day on Friday on their way to a three-wicket victory against lowly ranked Rwanda.

If only they knew how easy this one was going to be, as Vraj Patel poured in two quick wickets in the seventh over, dismissing Roger Mukasa and Riazat Ali Shah with the scores at 4-76.

It was then Shem Ngoche's turn to have a go in the 13th over, dropping another double to leave skipper Brian Masaba and Cyrus Kakuru in his wake.At the time, seven wickets had dropped for only 93 overs.

And so after an impressive runout from Rushab Patel to take out Frank Nsubuga, Vraj Patel, with his first ball of the 15th over - triggered an LBW call from the umpire to stifle out any hopes the Ugandan Cranes had coming into the game. 

Continent Cup T20 Africa 2023 Tournament launched

At the end, a low 97 score, but with much to do with what Kenya did when batting.

A decent opening partnership (after Kenya had won the toss and elected to bat) between Collins Obuya and Rushab Patel ticked all boxes building up to a great Saturday afternoon - the duo combining for 124 before the former being bowled out by Frank Nsubuga.

With every ball came an opportunity for Obuya - a twenty year veteran - to strike through for boundaries or for six, marshaling fourth batter Rushab Patel to a 24 ball - 52, the latter ultimately getting run out with two balls to go from what was a stacked board of 185 runs. 

So two wins out of two for Kenya with the next assignment coming up on Sunday morning against Botswana,who recorded a 33-run win over Rwanda (0-2).

The match starts at 0930 hrs EAT at the same venue.