Cricket Cranes fall short in ILT20 Cup final against Kenya

• Final: ILT20 Cup, Kigali, Rwanda
• Result: Kenya 171/7 beat Uganda 131 all out by 39 runs

Uganda’s Cricket Cranes had their worst batting performance at the wrong time as they failed to carry their good form in previous games into the ILT20 Cup final.

Kenya won the toss and chose to bat first. Uganda made a forced change, with Ronald Lutaaya coming in for the not-very-fit Cosmas Kyewuta, but that also meant that Uganda was going to be a bowler short.

Enock Kasaija

Enock Kasaija and Juma Miyaji kept the Kenyans quiet, especially the dangerous Dhiren Ghondaria and Rakeep Patel.

The Cricket Cranes had been tidy for most of the Kenyan innings, but things unravelled in the final five overs, during which Uganda conceded over 50 runs, and that was the difference between a par total and scoreboard pressure.

Kenya managed to pile on 170 in their quota of 20 overs, with Kasaija (2/34) as the outstanding figure among the Ugandan bowlers.

Cricket Cranes

In the run chase, a top-order collapse buried the chase even before it could mount a challenge; the Kenyan bowlers used the windy conditions well and quickly reduced Uganda to 24/5.

Kenneth Waiswa (17) and Riazat Ali Shah (53) repaired the damage with some gusty batting, but when the latter departed, it was curtains from then on. The chase ran out of steam with 40 runs still required for the win.

Kenya lift the ILT20 Cup

Kenya got the better of Uganda twice in the tournament, but the second time was the most important because it meant they defeated the defending champions in the final after going down to them a day before.

Joseph Baguma and Gerald Olipa picked up personal milestones for Best Bowler and Best Batter, respectively, while Kenya Captain Dhiren Ghondaria won the MVP title.

Joseph Baguma Gerald Olipa Dhiren Gondaria

The next edition of the ILT20 Cup will be hosted by Uganda in 2027.

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