Another six-wicket warm up game loss to Afghanistan struck a huge blow to Uganda’s preparations for the ICC Global Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers on Wednesday. Like it was in the loss to Papua New Guinea, batting woes further surfaced as Uganda set a paltry 76 runs for nine wickets after Ugandan skipper Davis Karashani had elected to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Oval.
The side was 38-6 after 11.3 overs with only opener Roger Mukasa (12 off 17 balls) reaching double-digit figures as Afghanistan captain Mohammed Nabi (3 for 6) got the better of Uganda’s batsmen. Despite Raymond Otim top scoring with 16 off 29, the efforts were way below par in comparison to the 114-5 score set against PNG in Abu Dhabi a day earlier.
Here, there were no partnerships as Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari (2 for 15) and company tore down Uganda’s plan without hesitation. Ugandan bowlers Frank Nsubuga (1/22), pace men Jonathan Ssebanja (1/26) and Patrick Ochan (1/12) proved defiant as they left the Asians 40-4 after 7.2 overs. But Nabi returned with 13 off 12 in an unbeaten 38-run fifth-wicket stand with Gulbadin Naib (25 off 18) as the Afghans overhauled the target in 12.2 overs to coast to an easy win.
Having lost to Canada by seven wickets in the first warm up tie, this win was a key motivator to the top ICC Associate side as they bid to claim a slot at next year’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
For Uganda, many a fan and the entire contingent will be left scratching their heads ahead of their tournament Group A opener against hosts UAE in Abu Dhabi on Friday. “Two losses is just enough pain, we’ll get out of the blocks come Friday. We’ll be ready to rectify our mistakes,” Karashani told Kawowo Sports on phone from the team’s residence at Yas Island Rontana Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
WEDNESDAY’S WARM UP RESULT
Uganda 76/9 Afghanistan 78/4 Uganda lost by 6 wickets
OTHER WARM-UP RESULTS
PNG 161/8 Ireland 143/7
Nepal 129/7 USA 130/5
Canada 182/5 Bermuda 186/7
Hong Kong 99/10 Kenya 103/7
Italy 145/7 Netherlands 147/4
Namibia 116/6 Scotland 119/1
Denmark 90/7 UAE 91/4