Cricket: Uganda pile more misery on Rwanda in T20 Continent Cup

The second day of the International League (IL) T20 Continent Cup on December 5 brought more challenges for hosts Rwanda, as Uganda and Nigeria extended their winning streaks in matches that hold significance for ICC rankings. Rwanda, fresh from losing to Nigeria by six wickets on Wednesday, suffered their second loss in a row after a crushing 112-run defeat at the hands of Uganda under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, a system used in rain-affected matches to adjust targets fairly. Meanwhile, Nigeria secured a hard-fought 29-run victory over Botswana. The tournament, hosted at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, is already highlighting the varying levels of skill and form among the participating nations, with results directly impacting their positions in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings. In Thursday’s late afternoon clash, Uganda, who began their campaign with a convincing 78-run victory over Botswana, delivered a dominant performance against Rwanda. Batting first in a rain-affected match reduced to 18 overs, Uganda set an imposing total of 192/7. Robinson Obuya was the star of the innings, smashing 70 runs off 33 balls, including four boundaries and six sixes. Riazat Ali Shah and Dinesh Nakrani also contributed with quickfire knocks, ensuring Uganda posted a challenging total. Rwanda’s chase faltered from the start, with wickets falling at regular intervals. They managed only 83 runs in 16.1 overs before being bowled out. Muhammad Nadir’s disciplined bowling played a key role, while Uganda’s fielding added pressure to the hosts. Earlier in the day, Nigeria continued their fine form with a 29-run win against Botswana. Nigeria posted a competitive total of 185/5 in their 20 overs, with Sylvester Okpe top-scoring with 45 runs. Botswana, despite a valiant effort by Reginald Nehonde (60 runs off 36 balls), fell short, managing 156/7 in their innings. ALSO READ: Rwandan teams struggle as invitational tourney opens in Kigali The first two days of the ILT20 Continent Cup have underlined Uganda’s status as the tournament favorites. Ranked 63rd in the ICC standings, Uganda’s balanced approach in batting and bowling has set them apart. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s adaptability and resilience have also made them strong contenders. For Rwanda, the tournament has been a learning experience so far. Despite flashes of brilliance from players like Isae Niyomugabo and Daniel Gumyusenge, their bowling attack has struggled to contain opposition batting lineups. Improvement in this area will be crucial as they prepare for their next match against Botswana on Friday, December 6.

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Cricket: Uganda pile more misery on Rwanda in T20 Continent Cup