With a game to complete their Group A fixtures, team Uganda’s chances of making the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh next year are far from close.
Coach Johan Rudolph could not stop mourning of relent poor show at the ICC Global T20 Qualifiers on Friday as his side suffered a 48-run defeat to tournament favourites Ireland.
The loss not only left Uganda reeling but are now near the exit of the showpiece after managing only one win – against Italy in six ties.
With a glimpse of hope to make fourth-place if they beat Namibia on Sunday, losses to hosts UAE, Hong Kong and Canada could ensure the contingent will be back home by Wednesday.
On Friday, Frank Nsubuga led the side against last year’s winners after usual captain Davis Karashani had failed a late fitness test for the Abu Dhabi show.
There were a few changes as Rudolph drafted in Raymond Otim and Arthur Ziraba for their debuts.
Leg-break spinner Otim’s (1/30) acrobatic fielding was duly exhibited as he took Paul Stirling’s (16) wicket off Roger Mukasa’s bowling (1/32).
Skipper William Porterfield made 33 off 17, Niall O’Brien scored an unbeaten 35 off 41 and gloves man Gary Wilson top scored with 41 as Ireland set a comfortable 147-4 score.
And like many other ties, Uganda’s awful batting surfaced again. With Arthur Kyobe back to his role of facing the new ball and with Ziraba this time, they made 5 off the first six balls.
But Ziraba’s presence was hardly felt as he was bowled by Trent Johnston (1/28) for a duck half way the second over.
Kyobe too fell with 18 off 18 and Hamza Saleh (21 off 29) tried to ooze some rare class, he fell before the end of the 10 over at 48.
At a point, Uganda needed 100 runs off 60 balls. They never met the target, wickets kept on falling and Philemon Mukobe’s 20 and Nsubuga’s 16-ball 19 all seemed effortless.
ICC GLOBAL TWENTY20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – UAE
FRIDAY’S RESULT Ireland 147/4 Uganda 99/7 Uganda lost by 48 runs
OTHER RESULTS
Scotland 165/4 Netherlands 150/6 Netherlands won by 4 wickets
U.A.E 159/8 Canada 123/10 UA.E won by 36 runs
Nepal 73/3 Afghanistan 78/1 Afghanistan won by 9 wickets
Hong Kong 169/4 U.S.A 102/10 Hong Kong won by 67 runs
Denmark vs. PNG Match abandoned without a ball bowled
TABLE STANDINGS
Group A Team P W T NR L Pts NRR
Ireland 6 5 0 1 0 11 1.62
Hong Kong 6 5 0 0 1 10 1.24
UAE 5 4 0 0 1 8 0.93
Namibia 5 2 0 0 3 4 -0.18
Italy 5 1 0 1 3 3 -0.10
Uganda 6 1 0 1 4 3 -1.42
USA 6 1 0 1 4 3 -1.84
Canada 5 1 0 0 4 2 -0.49