The Cricket Cranes finished runners-up in the 2026 ILT20 Continent Cup after losing to Kenya by 39 runs in the final at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Kenya posted 170 for seven after winning the toss and electing to bat, before Uganda were bowled out for 131 in 17.5 overs.
Uganda had entered the final on the back of a 47-run victory over Kenya less than 24 hours earlier, which saw them finish top of the round-robin standings.
Kenya struggled early in the final, falling to 103 for six after 14.5 overs, but Brian Likavu and Francis Mutua changed the momentum in the closing overs.
Likavu finished unbeaten on 41 off 21 balls, including four sixes, while Mutua scored 29 off 16 balls. The pair added 33 runs for the seventh wicket to help Kenya reach 170.
Enock Kasaija was Uganda’s leading bowler with two wickets for 34 runs, while Juma Miyagi, Riazat Ali Shah, Matthew Musinguzi and Joseph Baguma took one wicket each.
Uganda’s chase got off to a poor start as Kenya reduced them to 25 for five after 4.3 overs.
Lucas Oluoch took three wickets, including the dismissals of Robinson Obuya, Charles Musemeza and Gerald Olipa, while Sachin Gill removed Anas Baig and Ronald Lutaaya.
Captain Riazat Ali Shah led the recovery with 53 off 33 balls, including four fours and three sixes. Kenneth Waiswa added 17 before their partnership was broken at 49.
Riazat was dismissed at 116 for eight in the 15.5th over, effectively ending Uganda’s hopes of completing the chase. Musinguzi added a late 14 off six balls, but Uganda were eventually bowled out for 131.
Kenya’s Sachin Gill was named Player of the Match after scoring 22 runs and taking three wickets for 17 runs.
The defeat ended Uganda’s bid to defend the title they won in Nairobi in 2023 and Kigali in 2024.
Head coach Steve Tikolo said the tournament provided valuable international experience for a young Cricket Cranes side and urged the players to learn from the final.
Vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa also described the competition as an important learning experience ahead of Uganda’s upcoming international assignments.
The Cricket Cranes will next face Kenya in a six-match bilateral series in Nairobi from October 5 to 13, featuring three 50-over matches and three T20s.
Uganda will then turn their attention to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Nigeria.
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