Win or burst for Uganda
Joy. Uganda players celebrates the dismissal of Thailand Batsman Naruemol Chaiwai at Utrecht. Courtesy photo
What you need to know:
- Ireland’s skipper Laura Delany counts on the experience that has already guided them to seven and nine-wickets wins over Thailand and Scotland.
KAMPALA. When the national women’s team set off for Netherlands last Sunday, the young and vibrant players consistently mentioned: fight.
After two matches at the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier, they have the biggest fight on their hands. Uganda must beat top seeds Ireland at VRA Cricket Ground in Amstelveen today to stand any chance of making the semi-finals from Group B and possibly earn one of two available tickets to the November World Cup in West Indies.
“It’s tough but we are fighting till the last game,” captain Kevin Awino, said via phone from Hotel Breukelen, Amsterdam yesterday.
Coaches Francis Otieno and Grace Mutyagaba are in this state following Uganda’s 43 all-out bizarre batting show that gave Scotland a nine-wicket victory on Saturday.
Uganda’s Net Run Rate (NRR) only improved to -1.340 after Immaculate Nakisuyi pulled off a 21-run-a-ball and 2/8 in the four-wicket victory over Thailand on Sunday.
Uganda are level with Scotland, who face Thailand, on two points but the Scots’ NRR is 1.422.
After training at VRA, swimming and a boat ride yesterday, Uganda need a miracle against Ireland who won the 2015 Global Qualifier to reach the World T20 in India.
“At first, the weather was not good but we are now used,” wicket-keeper Awino said. “The wickets are flat and so dry they make balls keep low while bowling. Our openers are not having good starts but have adjusted.”
Ireland’s skipper Laura Delany counts on the experience that has already guided them to seven and nine-wickets wins over Thailand and Scotland.
“If we play to our abilities then we will have a good chance to progress. We have experienced hands like Isobel Joyce, Cecelia Joyce (leading scorer in the 2015 edition), Clare Shillington and Ciara Metcalfe who have been there and performed successfully on the international stage over many years,” Delany said in an interview with ICC.
Also, Kim Garth who is known in Women’s Big Bash League is back to full fitness while 17-year-old Gaby Lewis is in red-hot form having made two T20 half-tons against New Zealand and Bangladesh last month.
