Takashinga expose Uganda's batting woes

By Charles Mutebi

Takashinga Tour to Uganda
Takashinga XI 193/10 UCA XI 176/10
(Takashinga win by 17 runs)

Friday: Kyambogo
UCA XI v Takashinga

Deus Muhumuza’s economy with the ball was the brightest spot on another day of admirable bowling and fielding that typically fell short of securing victory for a Ugandan team facing strong foreign opposition.

It is the familiar script of impoverished batting undoing a display of great bowling to condemn Uganda to a defeat.

 Muhumuza claimed 2/14 in 10 overs at a splendid economy of 1.40 as a UCA XI lost to the visiting Takashinga XI by 17 runs at Kyambogo.

Although officially a select side, this was basically the national team that first of all impressively if not surprisingly restricted their higher-profile opponents to a low score before failing to find the runs to make it count, also not surprisingly.

You can actually argue Uganda boast world-class bowling and fielding and here they beautifully held Takashinga to 193/10 in 49.3 overs in the first innings.

Daniel Ruyange took 3/52 in nine overs while Jonathan Sebanja and Davis Karashani claimed two wickets apiece at a clip of over four runs per over. Regis Chakabva led the Zimbabweans with a match-best 56 off 106.

Uganda opened with veteran Akbar Baig, no doubt a reward for his match best 40 runs in the team’s two-wicket T20 defeat to the same opposition on Tuesday, but this time he fell for eight off 33 balls.

Baig’s dismissal did not necessarily have a rippling effect as the next four batsmen reached double figures, led by Arthur Kyobe’s 47.

Problem is, the runs did not come at the required rate or in the required amount. Roger Mukasa with 31 off 35 and Karashani with 25 off 22 were the other scorers of note, if you can call it that because this is a game that the UCA XI should have put away.

Perhaps they will make amends in today’s rematch at Kyambogo.

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