By Dorothy Nekesa.
Sunday, June 26
Kenya – 220
Uganda – 224/3 (45.1/50 ov)
*Uganda won by 7 wickets
Jersey – 371/8
Bermuda – 80 (17.5/50 ov)
*Jersey won by 291 runs
Uganda’s Cricket Cranes left no stone turned in their tie termed the series derby fetching a seven-wicket victory against arch rivals Kenya to reclaim their position on top of the table in their last second round game of the Cricket World Cup Challenge League B.
Youngster Simon Ssesazi (87) and Cosmas Kyewuta (3-22) played a pivot role in writing the round two script for the Cricket Cranes at Lugogo amidst a massive home crowd. Ssesazi recorded an unbeaten 90-run stand split with Dinesh Nakrani that saw Uganda successfully sail above Kenya’s 220 with 29 balls to spare.
The players discipline and team work saw Uganda finish their second round campaign on top of the League B table with 16 points. Tactician Lawrence Mahatlane has now shifted his focus to preparations for the third round slated to take place in Jersey from July/August.
With this feat, if Uganda maintain their lead at the top after the third round they will not only attain an ODI status but also progress to another level of qualifier for the 2023 World Cup in India.
Kenya won the toss and chose to bat first garnering 21 runs off the opening three overs before Kyewuta countered on Rushab Patel in the 8th over. Kenya who were 67/3 at one stage, persevered to 197/5 after Rakep Patel’s 72 runs before he was caught by Frank Nsubuga.
The speed merchant in Kyewuta disorganized Kenya completely, with Riazat Ali Shah (3-54) and Dinesh Nakrani (2-48) playing a pivot role in Cricket Cranes dominance.
Uganda won all their five games in the first round of the Challenge League B in Oman back in 2019 to finish on top and where there-after given rights to host this concluding second round of the series.
Cricket Cranes had a false start in their opening games against Jersey and Hong Kong but picked up in their encounter against Bermuda, Italy and Kenya. The three consecutive wins place Uganda in the third round in Jersey on top again. The third round in Jersey is due 28 July – 10 August 2022.
If Uganda finish on top of the table, they will progress to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off where they will be joined by other five teams including the bottom four finishers at Cricket World Cup League 2 and the other winner of the Challenge League A.
The six teams in Challenge League A are Canada, Denmark, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia and Vanuatu. In the qualifier Play-off, target is to finish among the top two for a place in the final Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe next year.
The Qualifier in Zimbabwe will have ten teams and the top two qualifies to the glamorous World Cup in India 2023.
