Perfect three for Uganda

Next up for the hosts today is Botswana, already beaten twice in the tournament.

KAMPALA

Hosts Uganda made it three wins in three matches in the ongoing ICC Africa Division I Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier with an easy nine-wicket victory over Tanzania at the University Oval in Kyambogo Oval yesterday. The defending champions’ bowling power was too much for the neighbouring East Africans, restricting them to 62 runs for the loss nine wickets.

Slow bowlers Frank Nsubuga (2/9), Davis Karashani (2/14), Roger Mukasa (1/15), Henry Ssenyondo (1/10) plus pacemen Charles Waiswa (1/8) and Jonathan Ssebanja (2/2) were all impressive as Tanzania set a miserable score with only their skipper Hamisi Abdallah (16 off 27) and Khalil Rehemtulla (13 off 19) reaching double figures.

The chase was reduced to a mere mockery by left-hand opening batsmen Arthur Kyobe and Roger Mukasa. The score was 25 in 3.2 overs when Mukasa (22 off 14) was caught by Benson Mwita off the bowling of Abdallah (1/20) when he tried to muscle one delivery over the boundary in vain.

Kyobe, who scored 57 runs off 47 balls to win the Man-of-Match award in the 30-run win over Kenya in the opening match of the showpiece at Kyambogo Oval on Saturday, once again played with controlled aggression for his unbeaten 34 off 20 balls as Uganda skipped over the rope in 9.1 overs. Uganda had also blown away Nigeria by seven wickets on the opening day’s second game at Lugogo Oval. In that match, skipper Davis Karashani snared four wickets in a miserly four-over spell that cost only five runs and left the West Africans shell-shocked.

“We have built the right momentum and have to keep it going,” said Karashani after the team’s warm down at Kyambogo Oval yesterday. “We will now take the desired rest knowing that we have to improve on certain areas before we play Botswana on Monday (today) afternoon. Our middle order has to start firing and we are still sourcing for a steady No.3 batsman.”

At Lugogo, more salt was rubbed into Botswana’s wounds by Nigeria who triumphed by seven wickets.
Botswana, who lost to Tanzania by four runs on Saturday, set a commendable 123 for 5 with Karabo ‘Chinny’ Modise top scoring with 86 off 64. But Oladoyon Olayoji, who was dropped thrice before finishing unbeaten on 67 runs off 41 balls (five fours and three sixes), rode his luck to steer Nigeria home with 21 balls to spare.

ediitorial@ug.nationmedia.com