Batsmen take blame

Kampala- After five months of preparation, the Achilles heel of Ugandan cricket - batting - once again reared its ugly head. Team Uganda finished 13th hence failing to snatch one of the six spots at stake to qualify for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh next year. Our cricket expert rates the touring party below. Marks are out of 10.

Davis Karashani - captain: If your ship sinks, you drown with it. He did try as an individual though. 4

Frank Nsubuga - vice-captain: His bowling remains top notch. But we already know that. No runs. 5

Richard Okia - batting all-rounder: Showed maturity winning Uganda a crucial game against Italy. 5
Raymond Otim - leg spinner: Dropped a routine chance against Hong Kong when they needed 27 off 16 as a sub-fielder. Bowled superbly when he got his chance and made up for the dropped catch with a blinder against Ireland. 4

Roger Mukasa - opening batsman: True description of a deer in the headlights. His bowling was a welcome addition but his lack of runs hurt Uganda greatly. 2

Arthur Kyobe - opening batsman: Walked the talk only once with a 15-ball 36 in the win against Italy. But what followed was a tale of one excuse after another. 3
Charles Waiswa - opening bowler: No luck with the new ball. Good awareness with the bat especially in that 50-run partnership with Okia that helped Uganda sneak a one-wicket win against Italy. 5

Patrick Ochan - all-rounder: Complete shadow of the man that was selected. Back-bencher whole tour. 2

Henry Ssenyondo - left-arm spinner: Bowled way too short throughout. Average fielder. 3

Hamza Saleh - top order batsman: Has the quality to play at the top level but lacked guts to fight every time he was required to do so. 3
Abraham Mutyagaba - wicket-keeper/batsman: For all his praise prior, he never really got going on his full international debut. He was flown back home with a Grade I Hamstring Strain. 2

Arthur Ziraba - wicket-keeper/batsman: Scored the most expensive duck in the history of Uganda cricket against Ireland having been flown in as a replacement for Mutyagaba. Never played again. 1

Phillemon Mukobe - wicket-keeper/batsman: Top scored for Uganda with 128 runs at an average of 18.28. But his efforts were a mere drop in the ocean. 4
Jonathan Ssebanja - all-rounder: Showed lack of awareness when he needed to execute game plans. But came to the party for the consolation win against Bermuda. 3

Hamu Kayondo – reserve opening batsman: The stage was a little too grand for him on his full international debut. Never really grasped his chances but it’s hard to blame him alone. 2

Brian Masaba - medium pace bowler: The man touted as Uganda’s next captain bowled good variations but was easily read and picked by the opposition. Good commitment in the outfield though. 3

UGANDA – FULL RESULTS IN UAE
Warm-ups
Uganda 114/5 PNG 118/4
Uganda lost by six wickets
Uganda 76/9 Afghanistan 78/4
Uganda lost by 6 wickets
Group phase
Uganda 88/8 UAE 89/2
Uganda lost by eight wickets
Uganda 105/10 Hong Kong 105/6
Uganda lost by four wickets
Italy 148/4 Uganda 151/9
Uganda won by one wicket
Canada 137/7 Uganda 93/10
Uganda lost by 44 runs
Ireland 147/4 Uganda 99/7
Uganda lost by 48 runs
Uganda vs. USA
washed out due to torrential rains
Namibia 125/7 Uganda 87/9
Uganda lost by 38 runs
13th place play-off
Uganda 134/7 Bermuda 123/4
Uganda won by 11 runs