Uganda seek revenge against Malaysia

What you need to know:

  • To prove point. Uganda will be seeking revenge having lost to Malaysia by four wickets in their first meeting in the ICC WCL Division Three at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur three years ago.

KAMPALA.

Nearly 800 fans gathered at Lugogo Oval to witness Team Uganda start off the quest for the top two places in the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division Three on Tuesday.

To their surprise, the Cricket Cranes lost to Canada after failing to contain big fish Rizwan Cheema. The Pakistan-born struck 10 sixes for a match-winning 44-ball 91, the closest a player has come to a century before tournament Day Three. After that loss, few diehards endured the journey to Entebbe to watch the recovery 66-run win over Singapore.

With plans of cleaning their image further and have promotion in sight, coach Steve Tikolo’s charges return to Lugogo with nothing short of victory on their minds when they face Malaysia on Day Four of the competition.

“The win (over Singapore) was a good confidence booster and we will look to improve on that,” Tikolo said earlier this week.

Uganda will be seeking to pay back in the same currency having lost to hosts Malaysia by four wickets in their first meeting in the ICC WCL Division Three at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur three years ago.

Then, on October 27, 2014, Uganda’s batting woes surfaced as they labored to a 106 total with Philemon Mukobe (24 off 34) and Frank Nsubuga (19 off 24) top scoring.

Malaysian captain Ahmed Faiz led the chase with an unbeaten knock of 34 runs off 43 balls. Here, Faiz and company had a difficult start, losing to Singapore and USA by seven and six wickets respectively in Kyambogo.

Having played Oman in Kyambogo yesterday, Tikolo is not ruling out changes to the side. “There might be changes but we will have to look at the conditions of the wicket. Thus, we will look to go with what suits the playing conditions on the day.”
However, just like skipper Davis Karashani, Tikolo further backed the choice of Arnold Otwani as the team’s wicket-keeper ahead of veteran Lawrence Ssematimba.

“Playing Otwani as a wicket-keeper was a tactical move to allow us play an extra batsman in the top order,” the Kenyan legend reasoned.

“We must understand that at times team tactics can change and are never constant. If it works people will say that was a master class move, if it doesn’t you get the flack for it but as a team we backed Otwani on the role given.” he added.
Tomorrow is the second tournament rest day.

2017 ICC WCL DIVISION THREE
TODAY’S FIXTURES
Uganda vs. Malaysia, Lugogo
Canada vs. USA, Kyambogo
Singapore vs. Oman, Entebbe
UGANDA VS. MALAYSIA - PAST MEETING
2014 ICC WCL DIVISION THREE (MALAYSIA)
Uganda 106/10 Malaysia 107/6
(Malaysia won by 4 wickets)