50 Over Tri-Series | Match Result
- Hong Kong China 241/7 (50 overs)
- Uganda 244/7 (50 overs)
- Uganda won by 3 wickets
The Cricket Cranes left it late against the hosts Hong Kong China with Cosmas Kyewuta hitting the winning runs off the final ball of the match to clinch a nervy three-wicket victory.
In the opening game of the tri-series, Uganda left out Joseph Baguma, Cyrus Kakuru and Frank Nsubuga opting to go for more pace with both Cosmas Kyewuta and Juma Miyagi getting a look in. Kenneth Waiswa was slotted back into the team at his favoured number 4 but also with the responsibility to bowl a couple of overs.
Uganda won the toss and elected to bowl first. Dinesh Nakrani struck early to pick the first wicket but the second wicket was about the brilliance of Fred Achellam behind the stumps as his quick hands got rid of the dangerous Anshuman Rath off the bowling of Alpesh Ramjani.
Babar Hayat (65) and former Captain Nizakat Khan (84) who combined for a partnership of 93 put some pressure on the Ugandan bowlers, especially the spinners.
However, Uganda was brilliant with the ball at the back end with Cosmas Kyewuta (4/56) leading the way with support from Juma Miyagi (2/25) and Nakrani (2/51) to restrict the hosts to 240/7 in their 50 overs.
In the run chase, Uganda lost Robinson Obuya early. Shrideep Mangela (22) and Raghav Dhawan (28) dug deep to try and weather the storm but the rate kept going up and both lost their wickets trying to up the scoring rate.
Kenneth Waiswa (43) and Riazat Ali Shah (84) kept the run-scoring going until the former fell to a loose shot but the Captain carried on and took the game deep. Ali Shah unfortunately could not carry on due to crumps suffered as an effect of the cold weather and his departure triggered a fall of wickets but Cosmas Kyewuta and Fred Achellam held things together to clinch the win off the final ball of the day.
It was a great outing for the Cricket Cranes in some unfamiliar weather conditions and the series should help the team adapt before the start of the second round of the Challenge League B.
The cold conditions forced off Captain Riazat Ali Shah during his batting innings but even the catching was difficult as Uganda put down three chances in the field.
The Tin Kwong Road Recreational Ground has small boundaries but it is a ground that has something for the pace bowlers, Fred Achellam claimed four catches behind the stumps compared to the first round in Kampala where he didn’t have any chance taken behind the stumps off the pace bowlers.
Uganda will be back in action on Friday against Bahrain.
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