U19 WC Qualifiers: Aaarnav Patel's masterclass leads Kenya past Uganda

On a normal day or ground, Kenya’s low target of 79 runs all out in the first innings seemed an easy task for Uganda as they chased Friday afternoon, but it was not meant to be, as the young U19s team, reigned supreme, and in a show of class bowling.

The man of the moment was Aarnav Patel, as he poured in six wickets, only allowing 15 runs, to knock out Uganda to a pastry total of 55 runs all out in 31.2 overs.

At the end, one which was punctuated by two consecutive wickets from Hitendra Sanghavi to dismiss Balidawa Ali and set up Stian Smith for a catch off a Pius Oloka scooped ball, Kenya secured their second win in the ongoing ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers, and with that, remained in contention - mathematically at least - to make it to next year’s finals in Sri Lanka.

The combined effort by the Kenyan bowlers at the Dar Gymkhana Grounds was a thing to behold, given that away from Aarnav and Sanghavi’s brilliance, Neel Doshi and skipper Vishil Patel cracked in two wickets each, with the former kicking off events with double maidens inside the first three overs.

Opening batsman Ronald Omara was the only Ugandan man to record double digits (18), with five men scoring ducks.

The start for Kenya was however underwhelming, as given by the low scores on the ground, the Kenyan batters struggled to put in big numbers, with enough credit going to opener Darsh Panchani who scored 40 runs in 34.2 overs, and Raj Pankhaniya, who was the only other man in double digits with 16 off 59 balls faced.

U19 WC Qualifiers: Kenya stopped by Namibia a day after dismantling Sierra Leone

With the win, Kenya are now third in the points table standings with five points, and two adrift of leaders Namibia who are yet to drop a game in the tournament.

Uganda are second, and just pip Kenya on net run rate (0.39) as compared to Kenya’s (-0.23).

Kenya close out their tourney with a fixture against Nigeria on Saturday at 0930 EAT, with Uganda and Namibia playing Sierra Leone and Nigeria (Sunday) respectively.

“We had one message heading to this game, and that was to win,” Vishil Patel said after the game. “The message has not changed. We are ready, and believe we can qualify.”