Team News: Kenya vs Seychelles

We have a new captain as we round the last bend of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Qualifier Africa A in Kigali, Rwanda. Vice Captain Lucas Ndandason will step up to captain the Kenyan side in their final fixture this afternoon against Seychelles at the Gahanga Stadium, with regular skipper Sachin Bhudia down with a bug. Kenya sit atop the Group A table with ten points and a superior run rate to Rwanda who are a close second adrift. Left handed opener Pushkar Sharma and seamer Emmanuel Bundi make up the rest of the XI as Collins Obuya and Nelson Odhiambo are rested.

 

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 52nd 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 12th 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 6th 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.

Squad: Kenya vs Botswana

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier A tournament is at the business end with Kenya taking on Botswana in the afternoon match at Gahanga stadium. 

Squad:

1. Collins Obuya

2. Rushabh Patel

3. Irfan Karim (wk)

4. Tanzeel Sheikh 

5. Rakep Patel

6. Sachin Bhudia (C)

7. Nelson Odhiambo

8. Lucas Oluoch

9. Shem Ngoche

10. Peter Koech

11. Vraj Patel

12. Sukhdeep Singh - 12th