Continent Cup T20: Redemption time for Kenya against lowly ranked Rwanda

A day after falling on the wrong side of history on Thursday, Kenya men’s national cricket side will look to make amends on Saturday (1330 EAT) as they face lowly-ranked Rwanda in Day Seven of the ongoing 2023 Continent Cup T20 Africa Tournament at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club in Nairobi, Kenya.

In the embarrassing loss, Kenya was restricted to just 115 runs in the second innings after allowing opener Vinoo Balakrishnan - who had an impressive 55 runs - and the entire Botswana team to an unassailable 145 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

It was Kenya’s second loss in the four nations tourney after initially falling to Uganda in their second meeting on Wednesday 14 June 2023.

On Saturday, a chance to claw back in the standings, where they are second behind Uganda with eight.

The last meeting between the two sides saw Kenya win by seven wickets with 35 balls remaining. Sukhdeeep Singh led the team’s batters with 35 runs (not out) with skipper Rakep Patel adding 22 in the closing minutes.

Continent Cup T20: Botswana stun Kenya in historic victory

On the bowling side, the duo of Vraj Patel and Emmanuel Bundi led the way with three wickets each, extending Lucas Oluoch’s onslaught in the Continent Cup opener against the same Rwandese side - when Kenya won by 3 wickets with nine balls remaining.

The fact that Kenya is unbeaten in three games (all time) against Rwanda should present the hosts a chance to get their fifth win and bolster their chances of making the 21 June final.

Meanwhile, newly named captain Rakep Patel on Thursday became only the second man in the country to reach 000 runs in T20 International (T20I) cricket; following in the footsteps of veteran batter Collins Obuya who continues to play for the national side past the age of 40.

In the early kickoff, Uganda battle Botswana seeking to extend their lead on top of the table to 12 points.