Uganda shock Kenya in Nairobi

Despite a brilliant knock of 81 from Nazimuddin, Bangladesh succumbed to a 30-run defeat against Pakistan in Nairobi, but the highlight of the second day of the Twenty20 Quadrangular Series came in the morning’s supposed undercard contest. Uganda, after being truly destroyed by Pakistan yesterday, inflicted a shock two-wicket victory over comparative cricket giants Kenya.

Following a disappointing team performance with the bat on Saturday against Bangladesh, Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo pushed himself up to open after Kenya were inserted, but found little support from his team-mates. Tikolo’s 66 formed the spine of Kenya’s poor total of 132-6, with the only real support coming from all-rounder Thoms Odoyo, who made 27 in a fourth-wicket stand of 58 with his captain. Uganda’s hero with the ball was left-arm seamer Charles Waiswa, who went for under five runs an over and claimed the early wickets of the talented David Obuya and Tanmay Mishra.

Uganda lost Roger Mukasa in the first over of their chase, but wicket-keeper Lawrence Sematimba counter-attacked with 42 from 35 balls and together with captain Joel Olwenyi appeared to have taken Uganda to a match-winning position at 65-2 in the ninth over. Both departed in quick succession to the Kenyan spinners however and Tikolo sensed the possibility of clawing the game from the jaws of defeat. Uganda collapsed from 114-5 to 114-8 in the space of six deliveries as Tikolo returned figures of 4-0-8-3. Cue Nandi Patel, Uganda’s number five, to complete the win with a cool unbeaten 32 and a ball to spare after an unbroken stand of 19 with Davis Arinaitwe.

Kenya 132-6 (20)
Steve Tikolo 66 (57), Thomas Odoyo 27 (21)
Charles Waiswa 4-0-18-2, Kenneth Kamyuka 4-0-31-2

Uganda 133-8 (19.5)
Lawrence Sematimba 43 (35), Joel Olwenyi 24 (17), Nandi Patel 32* (29)
Steve Tikolo 4-0-8-3, Thomas Odoyo 3.5-0-22-2

Uganda won by two wickets

In the day’s Asian-flavoured afternoon tie, Bangladesh put up a spirited performance against Pakistan but were unable to match the latter’s big-hitting resources and tighter bowling. Salman Butt and Imran Nazir gave Pakistan a rapid opening with a partnership of 76 from just 7.4 overs after being asked to bat by Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful. Nazir atoned for his first-ball duck against Uganda yesterday with a chaotic 29-ball 49, taking 21 off Mashrafe Mortaza’s third over, while Butt played a little more sedately for 33. Further violent hitting came from a dangerous-looking middle order of Younis Khan, who thumped four sixes in a 25-ball 48 and Shahid Afridi, clearing the fence three times as he hit 32 from 18 deliveries. Bangladesh were thankful for Abdur Razzak’s darting left-arm spin for restricting Pakistan to 191-7; eight overs of Ashraful’s leg-breaks and Farhad Reza’s medium pace disappeared for 97.

Again Tamim Iqbal failed to live up to his potential, falling early on for just one, but Nazimuddin continued where he had left off from his 43 against Kenya and looks set to open for Bangladesh in South Africa. Here he helped himself to a string of boundaries off Pakistan’s formidable pace attack, slapping Shoaib Akhtar over mid-wicket for six and following it with consecutive maximums off Iftikhar Anjum. Partners however came and went, with no-one else making more than Alok Kapali’s 19. Shahid Afridi applied the screw with his mixture of leg-breaks, topspinners and googlies and any glimmer of hope for Bangladesh faded when Nazimuddin was bowled by Yasir Arafat 19 shy of the first International Twenty20 century. In all he faced 50 deliveries for his 81, eight of which were lashed for four and five over the ropes for six; Bangladesh finished on 161-7. Tomorrow, the final day of the warm-up tournament, sees Pakistan take on Kenya and Bangladesh face Uganda.

Pakistan 191-7 (20)
Salman Butt 33 (27), Imran Nazir 49 (29), Younis Khan 48 (25), Shahid Afridi 32 (18)
Abdur Razzak 4-0-18-1, Syed Rasel 4-0-23-0, Mohammad Ashraful 4-0-42-3, Farhad Reza 4-0-55-2

Bangladesh 161-7 (20)
Nazimuddin 81 (50)
Shahid Afridi 4-0-26-2, Shoaib Akhtar 4-0-30-2

Pakistan won by 30 runs