Division 4 WCL: Cricket Cranes on track with 81-run win over Vanuatu

Match Summary

Uganda 222/8 in 50 Overs beat Vanuatu 141/10 in 47 Overs by 81 runs

• Batting Uganda: Mohammed Irfan 51(17), Ham Kayondo 44(105), Riazat Ali Shah 38(23), Brian Masaba 28(30)
• Bowling Vanuatu: Apolinaire Stephen 3/37 (10 Overs), Nalin Nipiko 2/39 (10 Overs)
• Batting Vanuatu: Andrew Mansale 69(110), Ronald Tari 20(71), Simpson Obed 17(18)
• Bowling Uganda: Mohammed Irfan 3/24 (10 Overs), Riazat Ali Shah 3/16 (6 Overs), Frank Nsubuga 2/17 (10 Overs)

Player of the Match: Mohammed Irfan (Uganda)

Uganda Cricket Cranes continued their fight back to Division 3 with an 81-run win over Vanuatu on Wednesday at Royal Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur.

Vanuatu captain Andrew Mansale won the toss an put the Ugandans to the bat and there was an early scare front men Roger Mukasa and Simon Ssesazi fell in quick succession.

Uganda was reduced to 44/3 with Brian Masaba falling in the 18th Over but Mohammed Irfan blasted a quick half century off 17 balls to put the Cricket Cranes back on track setting a competitive 222 for loss of 8 wickets. Ham Kayondo (44) and Riazat Ali Shah (38) were the other notable contributors.

Apolinaire Stephen 3/37 in 10 Overs and Nalin Nipiko 2/39 in 10 Overs were the key attackers for Vanuatu.

In the chase, Vanuatu were never given room to get going as Mohammed Irfan’s mystery, Riazat Ali Shah’s pace and Frank Nsubuga’s experience ripped through their line-up.

Vanuatu were quickly reduced to 2/4 with Jonathon Dunn, Patrick Matautaava and Shane Deitz not troubling scorers.

Andrew Mansale tried to drag his team with a half century but he was bowled out by Riazat Shah and it was all clear the Cricket Cranes were on track for their second victory at the Division 4 World Cricket League.

Steven Tikolo’s men ascended to second place behind their next opponents Denmark who are unbeaten so far at the six-team tournament.