- Game 2: Eagles XI v Uganda
- Match Result: Uganda 143/3 beat Eagles XI 137/7 by 7 wickets.
- Player Of Match: Henry Ssenyondo (3/21)
Uganda’s Cricket Cranes picked up their first win on their Tour to Namibia with a confident seven-wicket win against the hosts.
The visitors lost by eight wickets on Wednesday and needed to win game two to keep the series alive ahead of the final game on Namibia’s Independence Day.
Uganda made one change to the side with Bilal Hassun coming in for Juma Miyagi. Riazat Ali Shah won the toss and asked to bowl first.
The Cricket Cranes struck early with two quick wickets, but the discipline of the bowlers is what gave them the edge, as the Namibian batters were kept quiet inside the power play.
Player of the Match, Henry Ssenyondo (3/21), bowled a miserly spell of slow left arm spin and made sure that there is no getting away for Namibia, who eventually stopped at 137/7 in their 20 overs.
Kenneth Waiswa (2/22) and Joseph Baguma (1/25) were the other bowlers with wickets in the game.
In the chase, Robinson Obuya (14) and Simon Ssesazi (20) looked assured until the former departed, but there was little to worry about with Gerald Olipa (39) taking charge of proceedings together with Ali Shah (46 not out).
Olipa threw away his wicket even with no pressure around him but because Uganda was ahead of the game, his departure never derailed the run chase, as Anas Baig (19) finished the job with his captain.
It was a much-improved performance for the Cricket Cranes, but there will be concern for them in terms of injuries, as both Cyrus Kakuru and Cosmas Kyewuta were unable to finish the game due to injuries sustained during the game.
The team will take a break and return in action on Saturday, March 21, which happens to be Namibia Independence Day, and with the series tied at 1-1, the winner takes all.