Kenya Women's Quadrangular T20 tournament: Impressive Uganda down Kenya to claim final victory

Uganda women's national cricket team are the inaugural Kenya Women's Quadrangular Twenty20 tournament champioms after an exhilarating six wickets victory over host side Kenya at the Nairobi Gymkhana grounds on Wednesday afternoon.

The victory, a third over Kenya in the two-week tournament, was so comfortable that they clinched it inside the 12th over, attaining the target with a whooping 51 balls to spare.

“I am really excited for the victory," Ugandan skipper Concy Aweko said after the match. "Chasing the run was much easier for us even after giving up a few extras in the early innings. I am proud of what our fielders have done in this tournament."

Sharon Juma, skipper of the Kenyan team, won the toss and elected to bat. The home side would then hit a score of 80 runs all out in 18.2 overs, a score that basing on the their tournament - set standards, was going to demand heavy- lifting from the bowling contingent.

A run single from Immaculate Nakisuuyi on Flavia Odhiambo's third ball in the 12th over was all but enough to send the Ugandan bench racing into the field, breaking into a wild dance as they had for a third time in a week upset the hosts - and turned up when it mattered.

Evlyne Anyipo, with three wickets in the game, was awarded with the player of the game award as her teammate Janet Mbabazi was awarded as player of the entire series.

Match Summary

Kenya came into this game on the back of a winless run against Uganda, losing both of their group games by eight and six wickets respectively.

There seemed not to be a change in fortune for them this time also as the openers; Monicah Ndhambi and Mary Mwangi were held to 13 runs in four overs - claiming a single in the second over.

The first wicket of the game came through Evelyn Anyipo, who hit the stumps behind Monicah Ndhambi, sending her out with only 6 runs off 14 balls.

Monday's player of the game, Veronica Abuga had her one rough patch in the tournament, as she was dismissed with only 11 runs and it didn't take long before her partner, Mary Mwangi was sent out in the following over, exiting the crease with a 19-ball 13.

A couple of Sharon Juma boundaries in the eleventh over offered slight relief, before a rally of Ugandan wickets followed, with Kenyan batters struggling to find a perfect combination.

Kenya Women's Quadrangular T20 tournament: Veronica Abuga heroics send Kenya to the finals

A double wicket from Aweko in the 12th over that took out Esther Wachira and Sharon Juma preceded Ooko's dismissal an over earlier- leaving Kenya 5/35.

Daisy Njoroge's 21 runs was the highest by the Kenyan batters, as the closers, Lavendah Idambo, Melvin Khagoitsa and Flavia Odhiambo scored a total 3 runs in their respective innings.

"We came today expecting a win but it is quite unfortunate we lost," Sharon Juma said. "We gave up so many wickets early on and that clearly cost us the game. This performance will for sure act as a lesson for us in the future.”

Uganda's run rate of 11 runs per over was all the while impressive, led by Prosscovia Alako's 30 runs off 13 balls and closer Immaculate Nakisuuyi (18 off 13 balls) in closing out the victory.

Tanzania edge Qatar

Earlier in the day, Tanzania claimed third position in the morning classification fixture, defeating Qatar by 28 runs after holding them to 101 runs having won the toss and elected to bat.

Tanzanian skipper for the day, Perice Kamunya was awarded the player of the match for her batting performance, scoring a 22-ball 22 with a wicket to her name.

“This game was solely to solve the problems we had in our last loss to Kenya,” Kamunya said. "Being our last game, we wanted to make a few changes to our team and I have the confidence that we will be much better when we come back in next year's tournament."

For Qatar, the loss meant that they exited the tournament without a win, something Sabeeja Panayan, the team captain was unconcerned about given the improvements she had noted with her team despite the losing streak.

"We enjoyed the tournament in Kenya," Panayan said. "Today was a close match, dropped a few catches but came close. I feel like we need more fielding practices and the same case applies to our batting - which needs to improve based on the experience gathered here."