More at stake as Uganda, Kenya meet in T20 derby
Blick (R) is all ears as Sorowen address the media on Thursday. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
KAMPALA. From the Rugby Elgon Cup, perennial Cecafa engagements and more, you do not need much to tell the sporting rivalry between Uganda and Kenya.
A new episode of this East African derby is on cards today when the two friendly foes clash at the oval today in Benoni, South Africa on Day Two of the Pepsi ICC Africa Division One Twenty20 Championship.
This will be the sixth T20 meeting between both sides in four years as they pursue the two available slots to the ICC Global Qualifier scheduled for July 9 - August 2 in Scotland.
“We need to beat either of Kenya or Namibia to have a chance for a berth in Scotland,” Team Uganda captain Brian Masaba said. “Obviously, we know the Kenyans better and we are ready to throw everything at them for a result,”
Mission Scotland
The Cricket Cranes will not only be aiming to pay back 19-run defeat suffered in front of their home crowd at Lugogo as they surrendered their African Twenty20 title to Kenya in 2013, they know victory will help them inch closer to Scotland.
“That was a painful loss to take and this is the perfect time for revenge,” said veteran spinner Frank Nsubuga.
In that loss, Alex Obanda, who was dropped early on, blazed 64 off 47 to help Kenya set 156 for 5.
With charged levels of adrenaline, top-scorer Deus Muhumuza (22 off 16) and Kenya’s Tanmay Mishra had to be calmed down as Uganda fell short on 137.
“Defeat against our brothers always leaves us wounded but we will be pumped up enough to erase such low memories on Saturday (today),” Nsubuga added.
Whereas Uganda has a new look side that has seven eight new faces from the team that was in Windhoek, Kenya have kept faith with their tried and tested crop, adding only a few youngsters.
ICC AFRICA TWENTY20 DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP
TODAY’S FIXTURES - BENONI, S. AFRICA
Uganda vs. Kenya
Namibia vs. Ghana
Kenya vs. Botswana
