Cricket cranes’ opening batsman Simon Ssesazi was on flick yesterday as Uganda fought to remain a top of the table in the second round of the ICC CWC challenge League B.
Ssesazzi managed 87 runs not out off 112 balls in the 2nd innings as Uganda chased down Kenya’s 220 runs all out at the Lugogo cricket Oval on Sunday.
Uganda won by seven wickets in the much anticipated East African Derby to retain it’s initial forefront position of league B amidst threats from Hong Kong.
Hosts Uganda lost to Jersey in the opening match and terribly to Hong Kong at the Kyambogo Oval, games that challenged their comfort as they came into the round as “big dogs” and group B leaders.
Kenya’s Rakep Patel poised challenge for the cranes, scoring 72 runs off 72 a showoff that didn’t sit well with Uganda’s Frank Nsubuga who caught him off a bowl from teammate Cosmas Kyewuta.
Moments earlier, Frank had taken out Kenya’s Collins Obuya with a mouth watering catch that saw spectators rise up to their feet in jubilation.
Also on the mark for Uganda were Dinesh Nakrani (55 runs), Ronak Patel (50 runs), Kenneth Waiswa (4 runs) and Captain Brian Masaba (22 runs) putting to rest the other six batsmen on the bench.
Uganda at the moment stand at 16points, two ahead of Jersey in second place.
Jersey rose from a win by 219 runs against Bermuda in Kyambogo yesterday, to cruise past Hong Kong.
Kenya are fourth with seven points on the log, ahead of Italy and Bermuda as they wait to face Hong Kong on Monday.
Jersey will host the tournament’s final round in August, but remember this is only a passage that earns the top team a spot to compete in the play offs that will lead to the world cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. So it’s not over yet.
