First match

Challengers 165/8

KCC 140/9

Challengers won by 26runs

Second match

Indorwa 158/7 (20 overs)
Guards 105/3

*Match drawn due to bad light

Challengers registered an ideal start at the inaugural MM Industries 20/20 tournament following Sunday’s 26-run victory over arch-rivals Kigali Cricket Club (KCC) at Kicukiro Oval.

Sloppy bowling and fielding from KCC coupled with a fine batting display from Challengers’ opening batsmen Patel Sairam (43) and Hussein Budhwani (34) helped Challengers set a huge score of 165 runs.

Sairam batted patiently notching six boundaries including five fours and a six before retiring hurt with cramps.

And despite good contributions from Noorani Shehzad (34), Ahmed Rashid (25) and Jasat Mehboob (22), KCC finished 26 runs short of the target score.

After the victory, Challengers’ captain Srinath Vardhineni who notched a quick 16 off just three balls said, "We set a defendable score and supported our bowlers so well in the field. In the end, it was a great team effort and an ideal start for us.”

Sunday’s defeat was KCC’s third against Challengers this year and reduced their chances of a finals’ slot in the inaugural event.

In the other day’s game, bad light worked in Indorwa’s favour to deny Right Guards what seemed to be their second straight victory in the inaugural 20/20 tournament.
Chasing 158 runs, play was stopped with Right Guards needing 53 runs from 42 balls.

"It’s unfortunate that bad light has intercepted what was turning out to be our second victory in the tournament,” one disappointed Right Guards’ player said.

The draw however maintained Guard’s slot at the top of the table with eight points, two ahead of KCC who are second.

Ends