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Kenya retained its lead in the Africa-T20 Continental Cup after a comfortable seven-wicket win over Rwanda yesterday at Nairobi Gymkhana Grounds.

The hosts scored 98 runs for the loss of three wickets with Sukhdeep Singh (37 runs off 37 balls) in the batting department. Captain Rakep Patel (22 runs off 14 balls) who came in at number five in the batting order also weighed in with important numbers with two boundaries and a single six to his name. The duo of Emmanuel Bundi (3-15) and Vraj Patel (3-12) were also key with the ball on the crease. Rwanda who won the toss electing to bat first in the opening innings posted a lean score of 92 runs all out.

Rwanda’s Wilson Niyitanga (35 runs off 28 balls) was the top-scorer for the Rwandese side with his contribution including two boundaries and two 6s. However, the bowling department of Kenya was daring and deadly thus not allowing the opposing batsmen to rack up big numbers on the board. Traditional big-hitting Kevin Irakoze and Oscar Manishimwe were all dismissed for ducks in a sensational session for the bowlers from the Kenyan side. With the win, Kenya is back at the top with four wins off five games with a net run rate of 1.893. David Obuya’s side who are now tied on eight points with Uganda, have a chance to go all the way to the finals at home given their current form. They next face Botswana today in another must-win game.

Uganda also came out unscathed with a 64-run win over Botswana in the morning game. In the opening innings, the Pearl nation set out a tidy score total of 153-7 after electing to field. Alpesh Ramjani of Uganda was the star player of the match with three-wickets.

 haul in nine balls.

Opening batsmen Roger Mukasa (31 runs off 20 balls) and Simon Ssesazi (30 runs off 22 balls) led the charge for the Ugandans. The duo had a combined five boundaries and three sixes to help the team go beyond the line. Riazat Ali Shah was the third-best scorer with 28 runs off 20 balls for Uganda. Botswana pair Katlo Piet (3-33) and Dhruvkumar Maisuria (2-25) had their moments with the ball as they slowed down the charge of Ugandans.

On resumption after the break, Botswana were restricted to only 89 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Valentine Mbazo (23 runs off 21 balls) and Phemelo Silas (20 runs off 25 balls) were the key men with the bat in this game.

for the Southern African nation. Apesh Ramjani (3-9) and Siraj Nsubuga (2-25) came good for Uganda with their bowling mastery that deflated the Botswana team who are bottom of the four-nation Championship with a single win to their name.