In a contest of the top two sides on the opening day of the Division III World Cricket League, Canada came out top winning by 66 runs despite a late charge from Uganda.
Canada set 235/7 in their 42 Overs with Uganda bundled out for 168 all out in 39 Overs. The weather was a factor in the late start but when the rain was gone the game was reduced to 42 overs per side.
Canada had earlier won the toss and elected to bat first in a decision that seemed to be odd given the overcast conditions.
Canada was tentative in their approach not going for big shots and only putting away the bad balls.
Nishit Kumar was destroyer in chief in the beginning scoring a quick 43 off 43 balls before he was brilliantly run out by Charles Waiswa from mid-on.
Uganda pegged back Canada with the spin quartet of Henry Ssenyondo, Davis Karashani, Afridi Irfan and Frank Nsubuga drying up the runs.
Riwzan Cheema walked in with Canada at 104/5 in 28.2 Overs and from the first ball his intention was clear. He was given a chance on 3 dropped by Deus Muhumuza at long on. He used his second chance well freely scoring 91 off 44 balls. He was out on the second last ball of the innings with Canada properly set at 233/6.
This chase needed a lot of maturity for Uganda to win and when the top order didn’t hold, there was no way out for Uganda. Canada got quick wickets reducing Uganda to 7/2 with Hamu Kayondo and Arthur Kyobe out for zero and two respectively and Otwani didn’t look like he wanted to be the hero as he was clean bowled by Perez after he tried to charge at him.
Roger Mukasa and Shahzad Kamal the last recognized batsmen of Uganda were the only hope and they tried to rebuild managing a partnership of 49 runs between them but when Shahzad was caught and bowled all hope was gone. Mukasa followed him two runs later with asking rate already climbing. Deus Muhumuza and the Captain Davis Karashani had a mountain to climb and both gave a good account of themselves scoring 31 and 20 respectively.
Irfan Afridi had a brief cameo at the end scoring 31 which included 3 maximums that gave the big crowd in Lugogo something to cheer about but Canada couldn’t let this one go bowling well at the death to make sure Uganda never got back in the game.
Uganda wasn’t clinical not taking its half chances in the field but ultimately that Cheema drop has cost Uganda a much needed win.
Canada on the other hand have laid down the gaunt beating the top team in Division 3 giving them good vibe going into tomorrows hard game against Oman.
Cricket Cranes Coach Steve Tikolo cursed the dropped chance;
Maybe it’s the pressure of playing at home but our old batting problems came back to haunt us. Our top order was AWOL but our fielding was the worst. If we had gotten Cheema when he was on 3, they would have scored 150 odd and we would have had an easy chase.
Henry Osinde, coach of the Canadian team, was delighted with the win for his adopted country;
This is no home coming for me, Uganda is still in it but they need to field better and this cost them the game. They were in the game till the last 10 minutes but our slow bowlers managed to win us the game.
Uganda plays Singapore in Entebbe in game they have to win to stay in the competition. Singapore comprehensively beat Malaysia today at Kyambogo by 7 wickets. Last time the two met in 2015 Cricket Cranes beat Singapore by 1 run which the Asians will want to revenge.
In Entebbe
Oman beat USA by four wickets in a close game, the teams from Division Four trying to compete with the big boys of Division 3. USA was cautious in their approach but they just didn’t score enough runs on a flat surface in Entebbe.
USA will want to pick up a win when they play Malaysia tomorrow at Kyambogo.
In Kyambogo
Singapore outclassed their Asian counterparts by seven wickets. Malaysia only managed 120 runs all out which Singapore chased without breaking much sweat.
Singapore will be looking at making them two wins tomorrow when they play in against Uganda in Entebbe and the beaten sides USA and Malaysia play each other at Kyambogo.
All tomorrow’s action starts at 10am.
Lugogo
- Canada Vs Oman
Kyambogo
- USA Vs Malaysia
Entebbe
- Uganda Vs Singapore.