Olipa: Every ball was an event

Gerald Olipa says keeping his approach simple and trusting his ability was the key to his match-winning performance as Uganda’s Cricket Cranes avenged their earlier defeat to Kenya at the ILT20 Africa Continental Cup in Rwanda.

Olipa smashed a commanding 95 off 52 balls to steer Uganda to 197 for seven in 20 overs before their bowlers dismissed Kenya for 150 in 19 overs, sealing a 47-run victory at the Gahanga Main Oval on Friday.

Uganda had already secured their place in the final before the match, but the victory offered a measure of revenge after Kenya had won the earlier round-robin meeting by eight wickets with 20 balls remaining.

Player of the Match, Olipa, however, said his focus was never complicated.

“My approach was simple, just to keep it basic and play my game to my abilities and take the team through.”

The right-hander delivered exactly that, staying at the crease until the 19th over and anchoring Uganda’s innings after early wickets had threatened to derail their progress.

Olipa’s 95 came off just 52 deliveries, with six fours and eight sixes, at a strike rate of 182.69. He shared important partnerships during Uganda’s recovery and helped push the total towards the 200-run mark.

His dismissal, caught by Sukhdeep Singh off Peter Langat, came with Uganda on 181, leaving the lower order to complete the final surge.

Asked which bowler had proved the most challenging throughout the tournament, Olipa refused to single anyone out.

“I don’t have any specific bowler that challenges me, but I take every delivery as an event and concentrate on the ball no matter who is bowling.”

That philosophy was evident in his innings as he treated each delivery on its merit, combining patience with aggressive stroke play when the opportunity came.

Captain Riazat Ali Shah added 32 off 19 balls, while Charles Musemeza made 20 off 17 and vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa contributed 17 off 10 as Uganda posted 197 for seven.

Kenya’s chase then came under immediate pressure. Juma Miyagi removed Rushabhvardhan Patel for a duck, while impressive Enock Kasaija claimed three wickets and Matthew Musinguzi and Joseph Baguma added two each to bowl Kenya out for 150.

Uganda did concede 25 extras, including 16 wides, three no balls, five byes and one leg bye, but their spin attack proved decisive, controlling the proceedings on a surface that offered assistance.

Riazat praised the spinners for making the most of the conditions.

“I think the way we batted, especially Olipa, one of the top four batters, he was there until the last over, it was good to see from him and if I talk about the bowling, we gave away a couple of runs in powerplay but the way our spinners Mathew Musinguzi, Joseph Baguma bowled, it was good to see from them and the wicket was helping them and they bowled really well,” he said.

Vice captain Waiswa also played an important role in the field, taking three catches as Kenya’s chase fell apart.

He caught Dhiren Gondaria off Kasaija for 11, Sukhdeep Singh off Baguma for four and Nitish Hirani off Kasaija for 12.

Kenya slipped from 69 for three to 150 all out, with Uganda claiming the final five wickets for just 37 runs.

The victory gave Uganda the response they wanted after Kenya’s earlier eight-wicket win and provided momentum ahead of the final.

The two sides, who have led the standings, will meet again at the same Gahanga ground with Uganda seeking to defend their title on Saturday, September 18^th 2026.

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