“We have got a positive start, a win is a win and one big positive I will pick from this game is, this is the best I have seen the boys bowl and field.” Assistant Coach Jackson Ogwang commented after the Cricket cranes’ won against Hong Kong at the ongoing T20WC qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
Uganda’s opportunity to revenge against Hong Kong who beat them at home in Kampala came in handy today at the Bulawayo Athletic club stadium as they won by two wickets in their first game of the tournament.
Hong Kong won the toss electing to bat first, and by the end of the first innings, they were limited to 87 runs for the fall of nine in 20 overs. A score that looked flex-able for the cranes.
With a target of 88 runs to chase down, Uganda staggered in the first five overs losing four wickets including the captain’s at 26 runs, which made the task appear more less unachievable for a moment but later nailed it with a spectacular closing strike by Riazat Ali Shah that was dropped by Hong Kong’s Muhammad Aizaz Khan in the 19.3 over earning Uganda two runs.
Hong Kong
87/9
20/20 overs
Uganda
88/8
19.3/20 overs
Simon Ssesazzi got dismissed in the first over from an LBW after his pad got into the way, dispatching the Hong Kong team to appeal. The stand-in captain Kenneth Waiswa too departed when his side needed 64 runs off 102 balls to secure a win, just moments after Roger Mukasa had been bowled in the third overs to make the chase more intense.
Waiswa called the shots as Captain for Brian Masaba who will be missed in the tournament. Brian reportedly got injured yesterday during the team’s fielding drills and currently is going through assessment in hospital.
“Today we knew it was our chance to start on a high. The boys bowled well in the first innings” Kenneth said after the game.
Man of the match Dinesh Kumar Nakrani had a perfect day fielding, managing to take down four wickets for 12, Kyewuuta with two wickets, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, and Ali Shan taking down one each.
“Going forward, tomorrow we look to continue doing all the good we did today and also up our batting”. Kenneth told the press.
Tomorrow the cranes face Papua New Guinea 13:00hrs at the Bulawayo Athletic club stadium in their game two of the tournament. Assistant Coach Jackson Ogwang says the team will pick all the positives from today’s win and push it into tomorrow’s game.
Well done boys