Victory over Nigeria puts Uganda on the brink
Kenneth Waiswa fields the ball during the game between Uganda and Nigeria. PHOTO/COURTSEY
What you need to know:
Safety First. The intensity from the win against Zimbabwe was absent but the Cricket Cranes still did the job to ascend to second on the log with six points after four matchdays. Two more wins against Kenya and Rwanda will take Uganda to the USA and West Indies.
In a pivotal encounter at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 World Cup Africa Final Monday, the Cricket Cranes faced Nigeria, knowing that a win could significantly boost their chances of securing one of the coveted tickets to the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA.
Nigeria won the coin flip and chose to bat. Their innings unfolded with Joseph Adedeji leading the charge with 23 off 29, supported by Isaac Danladi's 16 off 13 and Sulaimon Runsewe's 15 off 23.
Uganda's bowlers, however, showcased a slightly less sharp performance compared to their clash with Zimbabwe. Dinesh Nakrani took 3 for 21, while Bilal Hassun and Alpesh Ramjani claimed 2 wickets each, restricting Nigeria to 99 all out in 19.1 overs.
Playing safe
The Cricket Cranes, perhaps conscious of the two-win requirement for World Cup qualification, approached their batting innings with caution.
While Ronak Patel anchored the innings with an unbeaten half century of 60 from 52 balls, former captain Roger Mukasa was pedestrian in his innings of 28 not out off 40 deliveries after Simon Ssesazi fell for just 6 runs.
Uganda reached the target of 100/1 in 17.3 overs, winning by 9 wickets with 15 balls to spare. But the feeling is they could have done better in the chase and improved their Net Run Rate (NRR) with the heavens threatening to open.
Dinesh Nakrani's stellar bowling performance earned him the Man of the Match award. However, the overall team approach suggested a deliberate shift in strategy.
The Cricket Cranes seemed to have chosen to play for safety and secure the win, recognising that only two victories stood between them and qualification for the T20 World Cup.
Looking ahead, Uganda faces Kenya in their next fixture on Wednesday, set to unfold at the Wanderers Cricket Ground. As the Cricket Cranes continue their journey in the Africa Final, their careful and calculated approach reflects a team keenly aware of the stakes and determined to make history.
ICC T20 WORLD CUP AFRICA FINAL
Results
Nigeria 99/10 Uganda 100/1
Uganda won by 9 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
Kenya 104/6 Namibia 106/4
Namibia won by 6 wickets
Zimbabwe 215/4 Rwanda 71/10
Zimbabwe won by 144 runs
Fixtures – Tuesday
Tanzania vs. Namibia 10.30am, Wanderers
Fixtures – Wednesday
Nigeria vs. Zimbabwe 10.30am, United
Rwanda vs. Tanzania 10.30am, Wanderers
Uganda vs. Kenya 3.30pm, Wanderers
Points Table
Team P W L NR Pts NRR
Namibia 4 4 0 0 8 2.589
Uganda 4 3 1 0 6 0.503
Kenya 4 3 1 0 6 0.481
Zimbabwe 4 2 2 0 4 2.276
Nigeria 4 1 2 1 3 -0.195
Rwanda 4 0 3 1 1 -4.580
Tanzania 4 0 4 0 0 -2.294
*NR denotes No Result/Shared Points
*NRR denotes Net Run Rate
