Uganda beat USA, face Malaysia

After three wins in as many matches at the ongoing Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division Three in Malaysia, there is optimism in Uganda’s camp that they can rewrite the winning script of 2007 in Darwin, Australia.

This is after the Cricket Cranes maintained their unbeaten streak with a 24-run Duckworth and Lewis method victory over USA at the horseracing Selangor Turf Club in the Klang Valley yesterday. And in the early hours of today, coach Peter Kirsten’s troops will walk onto to the Bayeumas Oval to play hosts Malaysia for the second time in history with less pressure.

For now, Uganda’s bid to seal a ticket to next year’s WCL Division Two showpiece in Namibia is so intact thanks to opening batsman Roger Mukasa, who put in a match-winning performance to help Uganda to their fourth win over the Americans in seven meetings yesterday.

After skipper Frank Nsubuga won the toss, Mukasa firmly backed his brother’s decision to bat first when he struck a pivotal half-ton of 71 runs off 100 balls to help Uganda set 215.

In his 122-minute innings, the 25-year-old clobbered four boundaries and two maximums to move his tournament tally to 119 runs in three matches – now fifth on the batting chart.

Before he suffered lbw (leg before wicket) by Danial Ahmed (2/36) for the third wicket, Mukasa had shared an opening 42-run partnership with Arthur Kyobe (8 off 31) and a second 51-run stand with Hamu Kayondo (21 off 55).

Despite Timil Patel’s figures of 3/42, assistant captain Brian Masaba (36 off 47), Philemon Mukobe (27 off 47), Nsubuga’s (17 off 7) late explosion and 23 extras were enough to guide the East African nation to the tourney’s third highest team score.

Due to rains, the Americans’ response was delayed and their target was revised to 153 from 35.4 overs. Nsubuga was clinical and tore through the Americans’ top-order for modest figures of 4-14.

Despite Srini Santhanam’s 37 off 73 and Karan Ganesh’s (22 off 54), USA were condemned to their second tournament defeat. Today, Nsubuga and company must watch out for Malaysia skipper Ahmed Faiz who leads the batting charts with 176 runs in three innings.

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS
Bermuda 257/8 Malaysia 179/7
Bermuda won by 37 runs (D/L method)
Nepal 263/9 Singapore 73/10
(Nepal won by 190 runs)
Uganda 215/8 USA 128/6
Uganda won by 24 runs (D/L method)
TODAY, 5.15AM
Malaysia vs. Uganda
Nepal vs. USA
Bermuda vs. Singapore

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