Even a mathematical chance for Uganda to quality for the play offs in the ICC T20 world cup qualifiers in Dubai was tarnished by Ireland this afternoon. After losing against the Europeans by 82 runs.
Uganda won the toss and elected to field first but were trounced by Ireland who qualified for the playoff for the first time in their history.
It was a game the Irish dominated from the start, with loose Uganda bowling allowing William Porterfield and Paul Stirling to race away with a stand of 78 off 7.2 overs. Setting up a huge total of 179, Uganda never threatened to chase that and were bowled out in the final over.
He tried the shot once too often, and his hock off the captain Davis Arinaitwe was held in the outfield by Arthur Kyobe. Needing nine an average of nine runs per over, Uganda went for their shots early, and lost Arthur Kyobe to Trent Johnston’s third delivery and Frank Nsubuga to his eighth.
Deus Muhumuza was picked by Kevin O’Brien as the Irish searched for two more wickets to claim victory.
Things went from bad t oworse as wickets continued to fall steadily, with the best of the lot coming when Charles Waiswa was one handedly caught by Ed Joyce off an Andrew White.
Ronald Ssemanda and Asadu Seiga tried to biff a few off the spinners as the run-rate climbed ludicrously, but George Dockrell was rewarded for his perseverance with two wickets in the final over as Uganda was bowled out for 97.
