Cricket Cranes edge Takashinga

KAMPALA- The Cricket Cranes rallied to snatch victory from the glaring jaws of defeat as they overcame Zimbabwe outfit Takashinga by 23 runs in a low-scoring thriller at Kyambogo Oval yesterday.

It was a day of two insipid batting displays but it will be the Ugandans, who despite clinching the rubber, that will want to look themselves in the mirror and forthwith shed some skin.

Uganda set 99 all out in 36.1 overs with under-fire wicketkeeper Lawrence Ssematimba (20 off 57), former skipper Davis Karashani (18 off 37) and vice-captain Brian Masaba (13 off 34) crawling to double figures as the slow-bowling trio of Sikandar Raza Butt, Chamu Chibhabha and Tinotenda Mutombodzi claimed two scalps apiece.

And with the Ugandan fans thinking their team was going to face a successive defeat, captain Frank Nsubuga had different ideas.

The 34-year-old introduced himself into the attack early in the second over and immediately bowled a wicket maiden claiming the scalp of Kudzai Maunze (1).

He finished with miserly figures of 6 for 16 in the allotted 10 overs that also comprised of three maidens as the tourists were bundled out for 76 in 31.5 overs.

Nsubuga’s other victims were Odecious Manje (11), Butt (18), and Shingirai Masakadza (2), Regis Chakabva (5) and Timycen Maruma (0).

Left-arm spinner Henry Ssenyondo (3/21 in 9.5) and Karashani (1/20) supplemented their skipper as Uganda pulled off a nervy win on a turf that offered palpable assistance to the bowlers.
The tour which wraps up on Sunday resumes tomorrow.

TAKASHINGA TOUR OF UGANDA
Yesterday’s result - 50 overs
Uganda 99/10 Takashinga 76/10
Uganda won by 23 runs
Tomorrow – 50 over game
Emerging Uganda vs. Takashinga, Lugogo
Sunday – 50-over game
UCA Chairman’s XI vs. Takashinga, Kyambogo

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