Kenya faced an early challenge but recovered to secure a four-wicket victory over Rwanda in the four-nation T20 Series held at Nairobi Sikh Union on Wednesday.
Initially struggling at 43 for 4 within the powerplay, Kenya’s Neil Mugabe turned the tide with a brilliant 71 off 46 balls, helping Kenya chase down Rwanda’s 168 for 1 with an over and two balls to spare.
Kenya captain Rakep Patel acknowledged the early setbacks but praised Mugabe’s resilience, crediting him for steering Kenya out of a difficult position.
This win marked Kenya’s fifth consecutive victory in the tournament and their second triumph over Rwanda. Rwanda, meanwhile, posted a competitive total, anchored by Oscar Manishimwe’s 79 and Didier Ndikubwimana’s 50, setting a strong foundation with a record partnership of 114 runs in 13 overs.
Despite losing early wickets, Kenya’s recovery was bolstered by Lucas Oluoch’s 32 off 22 balls and Jasraj Kundi’s quickfire 31 off 17 balls, which ensured their victory over Rwanda, who put up a commendable performance throughout the match.
Kenya will next face Malawi, while Rwanda will challenge Zambia in their upcoming matches.