Result
- Nigeria 89 all out in 17.3 overs
- Uganda 90/4 in 17.2 overs
- Uganda won by 6 wickets
Cricket Cranes showed why they are the team to beat in the IL T20 Continent Cup, securing a dominant 6-wicket victory over Nigeria in Saturday’s final to retain their title in style.
The match began with Nigeria batting first, but Uganda’s bowlers wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Frank Nsubuga claimed the first wicket in just the third over, and the rest of the Nigerian batting order quickly crumbled under pressure. By the 17.3 over mark, Nigeria was bowled out for a low total of 89 with Juma Miyaji picking up the final wicket to ensure Uganda’s bowlers shared the spoils.
Leading the charge with the ball was Henry Ssenyondo, who finished with 3 wickets in the final and took his total to 22 for the tournament. He ended as the Best Bowler and was rightly named the MVP for his consistent, match-winning performances throughout the competition. Alongside him, Cosmas Kyewuta, Alpesh Ramjani, and Dinesh Nakrani all contributed with key wickets.
Chasing Nigeria’s total wasn’t entirely straightforward for Uganda. The top order, including Shrideep Mangela, Robinson Obuya, and Raghav Dhawan, struggled early, combining for just 13 runs, with two ducks among them. But captain Riazat Ali Shah and all-rounder Dinesh Nakrani steered the team toward victory. Nakrani’s 27 off 25 balls kept things steady, and Riazat’s 42 not out guided Uganda to the win with plenty of balls to spare.
Despite the hiccup in the early part of the chase, the Cricket Cranes showed great composure to finish the job. Ssenyondo’s outstanding performance with the ball, coupled with Riazat’s steady hand with the bat, were key to the win. Ssenyondo’s excellent tournament performance earned him the title of Best Bowler, while Obuya’s 272 runs made him the Best Batter of the competition.
