Patel sets up clinical win for tigers in EACL match

By Oscar Pilipili

Rakep Patel claimed two wickets and contributed 36 runs to guide Kanbis Tigers to 14-run victory over Nile Knights in East Africa Cricket League tie at Nairobi Gymkhana

In Mombasa, Collins Obuya and Maninder Singh put on 66 runs stand as Kongonis recovered from their poor start in the competition to register a convincing six wickets victory over hosts Coast Pekee.

In Kampala, Roger Mukasa scored unbeaten half century to steer hosts Rwenzori Warriors to a whooping eight wickets win over Kenya’s Rift Valley Rhinos.

In the first match, Kanbis posted a modest 143 for seven after being put into bat and completed the win by restricting the visitors for 129.

Kanbis had beaten Kongonis in their first match, while Knights had lost to Warriors.

Openers Patel (36) and Harish Vekaria (44) put on an opening stand of 73 runs with Rajesh Varsani chipping in with 28.

Deuz Muhumuza got Ramesh Mepani (6) and Rajesh Bhudia (two) to finish with 2/22 in four overs.

Later, the spin of Kanbis Patel and Harish Varsani’s cutters ripped apart the Knights middle order, tilting the scale in favour of Kanbis.

Mitch Horrocks was the top scorer for the hosts with his fighting 23 off 20 balls that included 2 sixes before becoming Patel’s first wicket. Captain Davis Arinaitwe made 21 runs.

In the second match, Shem Ngoche picked two wickets as Kongonis bowlers proved too strong for Coast restricting them to 114 at Coast Gymkhana.

Irfan Karim was the top scorer with 38 runs. Maurice Ouma had started the inning on a bang making 20 off 21 balls before falling to Elijah Otieno. Apart from Nehemiah Odhiambo who made 13, no other players got into double digits.

In reply, Singh and Obuya scored 36 and 33 runs respectively as Kongonis pounced on Coast’s bowling attack. Alex Obanda scored 23 with Ngoche contributing 11.

In Kampala, Warriors needed 15.4 overs to get the required target of 107 set by Rhinos. Mukasa (43) and Ndiko (51) put on an unbeaten stand of 105 runs for the second wicket to steer their team to their second victory.

Karan Kaul had earlier scored unbeaten 45 as Rhinos made 107 for the nine.

Nelson Odhiambo (12), Peter Kituku (11), Harrison Ambani (11) were the other vital contributors for Rhinos as Henry Ssenyondo picked three for 14.

With the win Warriors top the table with eight points same to Kanbis but with a better net run rate. Coast is third with Kongonis sitting at position four.