African Games: Uganda extend cricket dominance over Kenya in opening day humbling

Uganda’s fine form over rivals Kenya extended to 2024 and to the African Games Sunday as they clinched a comprehensive 72-runs victory over Lameck Onyango’s side in the opening game of the tournament played at Achimota Senior Secondary School B Field in Ghana.

Dinesh Nakrani was named the man of the match for Uganda, who won the toss and elected to bat, as he rained on 43 runs off 23 balls to help his side total 169 runs for the fall of seven wickets in the first innings.

Kenya, on the other hand, failed to hit on their target with the bat, and only labored to 97 runs all out after 16.4 overs.

Returning skipper Rakep Patel was Kenya’s top run scorer, as he scored 42 off 35 balls, but the rest of the crew bar opener Gurdeep Singh - who had 22 - stumbled to single digits.

Neil Mugabe and Nelson Odhiambo went out for ducks.

While Kenya struggled on both ends, Uganda, in addition to seeing Alpesh Ramjani pick four wickets in the second innings, saw opening batsman Roger Mukasa scored 59 runs, with Kenneth Waiswa adding to the tally with 24-ball 25.

The result means that Kenya’s frailties against Uganda continue, and have now lost six of their last seven meetings in the last year.

It is not all lost for Kenya, as they will seek to garner points from the other Pool A opponents - South Africa and Ghana.

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South Africa in the earlier game on Sunday recorded a comfortable 134-runs victory over Ghana, and are now tied on top of the group with two points each.

Kenya’s next game is on Monday 18 March against South Africa at the Achimota Cricket Oval Grounds from 1650 EAT.