KCC 184/10 in 39.5 overs lost to RGCC 186/9 in 37.3 overs by 1 wicket

Right Guards beat Kigali Cricket Club by one wicket for as their second successive win on Sunday at Kicukiro ground and became the first team to qualify for this year’s UAE Exchange & Xpress Money 50-over Premier League semi-finals.

After winning the toss, Kigali CC captain Hassan Zaki put his men in bat. They made a good start after Kamil Meera and Dhaval Gohel had an opening partnership of 44 runs before it was broken by Right Guard’s 1st change bowler Bosco Tuyizere, the Rwanda U19 boy’s captain.

Dhaval Gohel went on to score his career best 60 runs which helped Kigali CC post what seemed a good score of 184 runs in 39-5 overs.

Right Guard’s pace man Freddy Ndayisenga did most of the damage to KCC batsmen with his fantastic yorkers and slower balls. He finished with bowling figures of 4/32 in 7 overs.

In reply, Kigali CC got off to a good start when Adnani Abbassi dismissed Right Guards captain Eric Dusingizimana on the first ball of the 2nd innings.

With Dusingizimana out, it put immense pressure on his fellow opener, Don Mugisha, to perform, which he did along with Tuyizere as they pair kept rotating strike ends.

The game, however, turned on its head when Right Guards’ middle order failed to stick to the wicket. Emmanuel Mugabe (10), Jean Claude Siboniyo (5) and Orchide Tuyisenge (5) were all dismissed having not made a lot of impact.

However another outstanding performance from Joshua Mwanja ensured the defending champions reached the target. Mwanja scored a patient 60 runs off 73 balls that earned him the man of match.

Needing 50 to win with 2 wickets in hand, there was a lot of work to be done, but thanks to John Mugisha, who stuck with Mwanja to knock off a worthwhile partnership of 41 runs.

Mugisha was later bowled which created a bit of tension to score 9 runs with last wicket. Mwanja however finished it in style with 12.3 overs to spare.

Right Guards now tops group A with 6 points. Group B games continue next weekend with Indorwa CC playing against Challengers CC.