Cricket: Uganda a win away to DIV II action

By Norman Katende

Uganda 215/8, USA 128/6 (35.4 over target 153)

Uganda wins by 24 runs (D/L method)

Bermuda 257/8 Malaysia 179/7 (43 overs target 217)

Bermuda wins by 37 runs (D/L method)

Nepal 263/9, Singapore 73

(Nepal wins by 190 runs)

Monday

Bermuda v Singapore

Malaysia v Uganda

Nepal v USA

Opener Roger Mukasa’s half century saw him claim the man-of-the-match award  against USA, as Uganda moved a step closer to regaining their Division II  status with a third win in the ICC Division III cricket league in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Uganda beat USA by 24 runs in their third game, which saw their target of 215/8 revised to 153 in 35.4 overs after rains prematurely ended the game.

Mukasa, who faced 100 balls left the crease with managed four boundaries and two sixes as he top scored before he trapped Leg before wicket by USA’s Danial Ahmed (2 for 26).

Ahmad had earlier bowled out his opening partner Arthur Kyobe at 8 runs, but middle order Hamu Kayondo (21), Philemon Selowa (27) and Brian Masaba (36) managed to try and keep Uganda going as they contributed towards the 215 runs.

USA’s Timil Patel managed to pick 3 wickets for 42 runs with Muhammad Ghous and Ahmed picking two wickets each.

With the bad weather, the overs were reduced and Captain Frank Nsubuga took the bull by the horns, picking the first two wickets of Steven Taylor (16, caught by Davis Karashani) and Fahad Babar (17, caught by Naeem Bardai).

This destabilised the Americans and the running out of Srini Santhanam (37), who was their top scorer and Nsubuga’s claiming more wickets from Steve Massiah (00) and Aditya Thyagarajan (04) gave Uganda the cover it needed for a third win and staying unbeaten.

Uganda now needs one more win either against hosts Malaysia on Monday or Bermuda to be assured of qualification to the Division II action.

The Division II league will take place in Namibia in January.