It is Judgment Day in Windhoek

Seeking Reprieve. Baby Cricket Cranes top order batsman Ronald Opio has struggled for form and will be looking repair his reputation with a solid knock against Tanzania at the Trustco United Ground in Windhoek today. PHOTO BY ICC MEDIA.

Many a fan were agitated when Uganda collapsed like a pack of cards while pursuing 110 runs for victory against Nigeria on Match Day III of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 Africa Cricket World Cup Qualifiers here in Windhoek, Namibia.
Everyone back home replayed the numerous scripts of capitulations that Uganda’s sporting teams have suffered over the years. But was it a capitulation? That all depends on whichever way one would like to look at it.
But in the face of adversity if that should be called a capitulation then it is far-fetched if anyone on ground in Windhoek is to give their views.
In the previous days, Nigeria claimed arguably the biggest scalps of the continental showpiece. They stunned overwhelming tourney favourites Namibia by 52 runs and then proved too much for Kenya by 58 runs after the West Africans had set 129 and 201 runs in the respective matches.
Today is ‘Judgment Day’ proper in Windhoek. Everyone walks into the final day of the round-robin event with the mathematics showing that either of new pundits favourites Nigeria, Namibia or Uganda are still within a chance to be on the Airbus to South Africa for the ICC U-19 World Cup next year.
Kenya versus Namibia at Wanderers Cricket Ground is, on paper, the clash of Match Day IV as a win for either side will literally be a direct shootout for the continet’s lone spot.
But for Uganda, this is a very important clash. A win is a must. The perfect start of two wins in a row; against Kenya and Sierra Leone was soiled by that loss to Nigeria.
And now the Baby Cricket Cranes have a chance to restore some dented pride and hope that other results go their way since they maintain an outside chance of sneaking through to the Rainbow Nation. Uganda coaches Jackson Ogwang and Lawrence Ssematimba are poised to give a debut to Edwin Nuwagaba, a Mukono Parents School S.3 student, who has had to patiently wait for his turn in this cut-throat tournament.
No one can be entirely written off before the sun sets this evening.

ICC U-19 WC Qualifier

Today’s fixtures – 10.30am
Kenya vs. Namibia, Wanderers Cricket Ground
Nigeria vs. Sierra Leone, Windhoek Affies Park
Uganda vs. Tanzania, Trsutco United Ground

The team

Probabale XI: 1. Frank Akankwasa
(captain) 2. Zephaniah Arinaitwe
(vice captain) 3. Juma Miyagi 4. Pascal Murungi. 5. Trevor Bukenya 6. Edwin Nuwagaba 7. Ashraf Senkubuge 8. Ramathan Ochimi 9. Perry Wazombe 10. Ronald Opio 11. Cosmas Kyewuta
Reserves: 1. John Gabula 2.Simon
Oketcho 3. Ismail Munir