What was meant to be a fruitful experiment turned out to produce disappointing results as team Uganda lost to Papua New Guinea (PNG) by six wickets in an ICC Twenty20 Global Qualifier build-up game on Tuesday. The East Africans received a tough reception on the oval in Dubai as coach Johan Rudolph endured a tough international start for his outfit since taking over in July. But there are many lessons to learn from the defeat in both the bowling and batting segments if Uganda is to make a maiden T20 World Cup in Bangladesh next year. The Davis Karashani led-side’s bowling failed to defend 114 in 20 overs and when they seemed to contain the pressure, PNG sneaked to victory with eight balls to spare.
Knowing one or two things about his opponents, PNG skipper Chris Amini stuck in his opponents upon winning the toss at the Abu Dhabi Oval 1. And he, perhaps, could have chosen better for they took the first three wickets for seven runs. First, opener Roger Mukasa returned for 12 off 12 after he was caught by Asad Vala off Mahuru Dai bowling (1/13) at 3.5 overs. Two deliveries later, left-hander Arthur Kyobe (9 off 12) returned to the dugout after he was caught by Willie Gavera off Charles Amini’s bowling (2/20). Amini took his second of the game after his leg break trapped Patrick Ochan for five at the end of the over.
After that bizarre top-order collapse, Uganda then lost two wickets and were 53-5 after 11.1 overs. But their innings were resurrected by an unbeaten 53-ball 61 run partnership for the sixth wicket between Hamza Saleh (42 off 41) and Karashani (21 off 26) which helped Uganda set 114-5. Ugandan spinner Frank Nsubuga (1/8) could have made early in-roads in the opponents’ batting but that hardly brought a necessary scare. Vala struck 24 off 30 but by the time he fell for the second wicket off Karashani’s bowling (1/15) in the 12th over, PNG had found the lifeline. Mukasa got the better of Geraint Jones (38 off 39) Christopher Kent (9 off 13) but PNG coasted to victory in the penultimate over. ICC TWENTY20 GLOBAL WORLD CUP QUALIFIER –UAE Uganda 114/5 Papua New Guinea 118/4 Papua New Guinea won by six wickets