- Game 1: Uganda vs. Tanzania
- Result: Uganda 142/8 beat Tanzania 71 all out by 52 runs
Uganda’s Cricket Cranes had to go through some adversity battling both rain and a resilient host in their opening Challenge League B encounter.
Riazat Ali Shah won the toss and elected to bat first. After just two overs, the heavens opened and stopped play; the teams took to the field again but only briefly before the shower became heavier after five overs with the score at 51/0.
A wet outfield delayed the restart of the game further, and when play was possible each side would only bat for 20 overs each, and Uganda had used up five of those 20 so they had to bat an extra 15 overs to finish their first innings.
Simon Ssesazi (35) and Raghav Dhawan (43) pushed the initiative further with a shift in the batting order to allow for more power at the back end, but it did not come off entirely, with the Cricket Cranes finishing on 142/8 in their quota of 20 overs.
In the run chase, Tanzania started in a brisk manner with Dhrumit Mehta (24) taking the run chase to the Cricket Cranes, but once the breakthrough came at 30/1, the remaining nine wickets only added 41 runs as the slow bowlers took centre stage.
Joseph Baguma (3/13) continued to enjoy good form in Tanzania, but it’s his partner Henry Ssenyondo (3/7) who took the player of the match award. Sumeet Verma (2/6) complemented the two frontline slow bowlers to ensure maximum points for the Cricket Cranes.
The Cricket Cranes passed the first test with flying colours to make sure they have the momentum going into the big games that also come back-to-back against rivals Italy and Hong Kong China.
A short game affair is never an easy encounter, but the Cricket Cranes did just enough to win the game. The side will take a break and will be back in action on Tuesday against Italy.
Cosmas Kyewuta, Fred Achellam and Gerald Olipa are the only players not to get a run out in the game; they could become important as the tournament goes on.