Tamil Lions 79/10 in 16.2 oversIndorwa CC 59/2 in 6.5 oversIndorwa CC - Won (D/L method) Indorwa Cricket Club started the 2017 UAE Exchange 50-Overs Premier League qualifiers on a good note by beating Tamil Lions Cricket Club on Duckworth Lewis method at Kicukiro cricket oval on Sunday. This year’s competition kicked off this weekend with Round 1 qualifiers being contested for by six teams over the next two weekends.

Indorwa CC won the toss and elected to bowl, limiting Tamil Lions to 79 runs all out in 16.2 overs. Indorwa gave away 29 extras, which means that Tamil batsmen managed just 50 runs amongst them.

Only Yuli Ishimwe, who came in at number 9, scored in double figures for Tamil Lions with 11 runs that included two 4s off 15 balls before he was bowled out by Eric Hirwa Dusabemungu.

Mihir Bhatt was the highlight of Indorwa bowling, taking 3 wickets from 4 overs for 23 runs, while Manoj Chauhan picked 2 wickets in six balls for 11 runs.

Due to rain, the second inning was reduced to 59 runs in ten overs, which Indorwa reached for a loss of just two wickets—Dhaval Patel was 23 runs not out from 16 balls, including four 4s.

He was supported by T. Abhishek, who scored a quick-fire 18 runs including three 4s from 14 balls before Joseph Tuyishimire bowled him out. Nayan Patel won the game with 9 runs including 1 four from 13 balls before he was run out.

In the second game, Vikings Cricket Club defeated Rwanda Cricket Association Development Team by 5 wickets.

RCA Development Team won the toss and elected to bat, managing 123 runs in the allotted 20 overs for a loss of 8 wickets, but Rwandan international youngster Orchide Tuyisenge smashed 86 runs including thirteen 4s from 63 balls- none of his teammates entered into double figures.

In reply, Vikings CC reached 126 runs in 18.1 overs for the loss of 5 wickets—Vijay Kumar top scored with 29 runs not out off 28 balls including three 4s.

He got good support from Manoj Chaudhari (26 runs off 27 balls, two 4s), David Uwimana (26 runs from 29 balls, two 4s) and Zephanie Arinaitwe, who scored 20 runs off 18 balls including two 4s.

Indorwa will face Vikings in Round 2 on Sunday, while Kerala Hunters will be up against Impala Titans in Round 1.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw