- Game 1: Eagles XI v Uganda – T20
- Match Result: Eagles XI 135/2 beat Uganda 131/9 by 8 wickets
In his first assignment as Cricket Cranes Head Coach, Steve Tikolo has tasted defeat, but therein, he must have seen that it is something to work with.
In the first tour game for the Cricket Cranes to Namibia, they handed T20 debuts to youngsters Gerald Olipa and Anas Baig.
The Eagles won the toss and elected to bowl first. Simon Ssesazi (33) and Robinson Obuya (28) put on an opening stand worth 58 before the latter departed. However, Uganda failed to capitalize on that good foundation and only youngsters Gerald Olipa (14) and Anas Baig (16) managed to get into double figures, finishing on 131/9 in their quota of 20 overs.
The slow leg spin of Nicole Loftie (2/15) troubled the Ugandan middle order, who failed to find a second kick in the final five overs.
In the run chase, Uganda picked up two wickets early through Juma Miyagi and Riazat Ali Shah, but that was the only reward for the team in the defence of their low total.
Nicole-Leftie Eaton (72 not out) and Captain Dylan Lecher (48 not out) were resolute in the chase and made sure of the result inside 14 overs.
The hosts inflicted defeat on the Cricket Cranes in their first tour game, but there are some sparks, especially from the two debutants, Gerald Olipa and Anas Baig, who showed flashes of brilliance but will need some nurturing to improve their gamesmanship. Olipa gave away his wicket after hitting a six, while Anas Baig was run out taking a needless second run.
In his return to the yellow of the Cricket Cranes, Ssesazi was comfortable at the top of the order, but he will need to make sure he converts his starts.
The worry for Steve Tikolo will be the frail middle order that lacks enough power to deliver powerful punches at the back end, which means Uganda isn’t scoring enough runs in the final overs.
The total was not big enough for the bowlers to work with, but there was good pace from Juma Miyagi and Cosmas Kyewuta. However, when the margin of error is very low, you can only do much as a bowler.
Joseph Baguma and Henry Ssenyondo tried to slow down things, but they could only do much while the medium pace of Riazat Ali Shah and Kenneth Waiswa was never going to derail Namibia.
The team will be back in action tomorrow against the Eagles XI, and Steve Tikolo will be looking for improvements from his team.
