Obuya writes folklore in Kigali as Kenya sail to Regional Final

Lost balls, flying balls, replacement balls.

That was the order of the day at the Gahanga Stadium as Collins Obuya whacked a record eight maximums in his 39-ball 74 run tally that helped Kenya bury Botswana by eight wickets in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Qualifier Africa A tourney in Kigali, Rwanda.

Having been set a target of 117 runs to win, Obuya went ham from the get go, registering his half century in just 29 balls, adding just three boundaries to his total tally in his effort innings that also earned him the 1000-run mark and a fifth T20 half century in his 52^nd outing.

He added 82 runs with Irfan Karim who had been reduced to a spectator, with a contribution of 12 from 13 balls from the partnership, ballooning to finish unbeaten on 30 off 20 balls.

Rakep Patel’s maximum over Vinoo Balakrishnan was the final mercy call as Kenya went over the ropes in the 12^th over with 51 balls to spare.

Reginald Nehonde’s half century was the saving grace for Rwanda holding off the tail end with a well-constructed 53 off 54 balls, inclusive of four boundaries and the two maximums he hit off Rakep Patel. Nehonde anchored the South African’s innings with a 61-run partnership alongside Thatayaone Tshose (22) for the 6^th wicket that took the score to 6/114 in the final over.

Peter Langat was the pick of the bowlers for Kenya with 2/22 in his three overs while Tshose picked out both the Kenyan wickets of Rushabh Patel and Obuya.

The win takes Kenya back to the top spot with 10 points and a match left to play while effectively knocking out Botswana from contention for the top two teams that advance to the Regional final.