By 
Result for the FINAL
Nigeria 89 all out in 17.3 overs
Uganda 90/4 in 17.2 over
Uganda won by 6 wickets
The Cricket Cranes continued their dominance in the ILT20 Continental Cup, successfully defending their title with a commanding six-wicket victory over Nigeria in the final last Saturday at Gahanga Stadium, Kigali.
Having clinched the inaugural edition in Kenya last year, Uganda once again proved their mettle on the continental stage.
Kenya’s last-minute withdrawal from the tournament altered the dynamics, forcing a revised fixture format where all teams played each other three times.
Despite the reshuffle, Uganda maintained an unrelenting performance throughout the competition.
Uganda’s journey to the final was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing their dominance in all three rounds of the tournament:
First Round: Defeated Botswana by 78 runs, Rwanda by 112 runs (DLS), and Nigeria by 5 wickets (DLS).
Second Round: Beat Rwanda by 86 runs, Nigeria by 7 wickets, and Botswana by 108 runs.
Third Round: Overcame Nigeria by 23 runs, Rwanda by 50 wickets, and Botswana by 32 runs.
Uganda finished the preliminary rounds unbeaten, collecting the maximum 20 points and setting the highest team score of 229 runs in the tournament.
The final, a rain-affected low-scoring contest, saw Nigeria struggle to find momentum after opting to bat first.
They managed only 89 runs, bowled out in 17.3 overs.
Uganda chased the modest target with composure, securing a six-wicket win and their second consecutive ILT20 Continental Cup title.
Head coach Abhay Sharma and captain Riazat Ali Shah praised the team for their unbeaten campaign, highlighting the tournament as vital preparation for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
The team’s focus now shifts to the Challenge League B, set to take place in Hong Kong this February.
The tournament was also marked by individual milestones including; Rwanda’s cricket legend, former captain and Guinness World Record holder Eric Dusingizimana announced his retirement from international cricket, Uganda’s Henry Ssenyondo reached the milestone of 100 T20 international wickets, Robinson Obuya registered his highest individual T20i score of 83 runs in the tournament.
Individual Awards
MVP/Best Bowler: Henry Ssenyondo (Uganda)
Best Batter: Robinson Obuya (Uganda)
Best Fielder: Didier Ndikubwimana (Rwanda)
Photo by: Aminah Babirye
