Uganda only needed to atleast 141 after USA posted 145 all out no matter the end result to stay in Division 3 but they conspired to only score 132 all out and lose by 13 runs.
While the promotion highly favoured Oman and Canada, Uganda needed to secure its Division 3 status before thinking of the math but somehow from a dominant position of 90/5 Uganda lost 4 wickets for only 9 runs with a lot of work left for the last pair of Captain Davis Karashani and Henry Ssenyondo to score 41 runs to win the game.
Uganda made changes to the team that beat Malaysia. With Lawrence Ssematimba out injured, Naeem Bardai came in and Arthur Kyobe came in for Arnold Otwani who was dropped on disciplinary grounds.
Uganda won the toss and elected to field first with a little matter of run rate on their minds, Uganda meant business when they picked early wickets pegging back the USA to 100/8 inside 40 Overs but some lower order power hitting form Hutchinson (52 off 50 balls) helped USA score 145 in 49.5 overs.
In reply, Uganda lost Hamu Kayondo quickly and Arthur Kyobe and Naeem Bardai embarked on a rebuilding job which didn’t last long with Kyobe eventually out for 15.
Naeem (32) was top scorer for Uganda as he kept losing partners till he also gave out caught behind. Every Uganda batsman seemed to think his net partner will finish the job as they all came and went without much contribution.
With news coming from Lugogo that Singapore had beaten Canada by 2 runs, Uganda needed to atleast 141 runs to stay in 4th place ahead of the USA.
A mini collapse that saw Uganda lose 4 wickets for 9 runs never helped leaving Uganda railing at 114/9. It was left to Karashani and Ssenyondo to dig Uganda out of the hole but it was never to be as the captain was bowled by Jasdeep Singh to send the Americans into celebration.
The many fans who braved the school going kids Jam cursed the loss, with the team losing a game they should have comfortably won.
This result means Uganda is relegated to Division 4 with Malaysia. This is the worst possible outcome for the hosts.
Canada will play Oman in the final in Lugogo with 3rd and 4th placement game played in Kyambogo.
Uganda plays Malaysia in Entebbe for 5th and 6th places.