India tour: No clean sweep but Cricket Cranes achieve motive

Spin wizard. Bowler Henry Ssenyondo returned figures of five-wickets for six runs in 5.3 overs to win the Man of Match award as Uganda earned a seventh successive win on the Tour of India. But Uganda lost the final game. PHOTO BY INNOCENT NDAWULA

CHIKHIL.

At the end of the tour, there was no clean sweep. Not that the Cricket Cranes played hospitable guests to give away the final game of the eight-match Tour to India series.
Team Uganda threw everything they had at the opposition but couldn’t cross over the final hurdle as the opposition – Sterling Generators - restored some pride for the home teams with a one-wicket win to leave Uganda a bit saddened on missing out on a clean sweep despite bagging the series 7-1.

Ramanandi the difference
The men from a small town – Silvassa - in Dadra and Nagarhaveli State won the toss and restricted Uganda to 151 runs for 9 wickets in the allotted 40 overs with Simon Ssesazi (33) and Brian Masaba (27) showing resistance on a tough wicket.
But Jiten Ramanandi, who claimed three wickets in the first innings, made the difference in the second innings as well with an unbeaten knock of 37 runs not out off 49 balls to guide his local team to win a tense and action filled-match at the Sanjay Farm Oval. “In such situations, the team that handles the pressure well, is the team that wins,” said Steve Tikolo, the legendary Kenyan tactician that coaches the Cricket Cranes.
“We have achieved our motive and taken very many positives and memories from this place. Hopefully the experience and exposure garnered from playing on this spin-friendly wickets will keep us in good stead for the Malaysia Tour.”
Despite Emmanuel Isaneez (2/25 in 7.4) leaking nine runs off the last over’s first four balls when the opposition needed just six, Uganda will rue a couple of gilt edged run-outs and catching chances missed.

Yesterday’s results in Chikhil - 40 overs
Uganda 151 runs for 9 wickets in 40 overs lost to Sterling Generators 155 runs for 9 wickets in 39.4 overs by 1 wicket and 2 balls remaining.
Man of Match: Jiten Ramanandi of Sterling Generators
Tour summary:
Uganda win eight match series 7-1