Cricket Cranes edge Bahrain in series ahead of Cricket League B

Bahrain Tour of Uganda

Uganda 162/6 in 30 overs

Bahrain 120/5 24. Overs

Revised target 124

Uganda won by 3 runs

It has been a testing week for the Cricket Cranes, who defeated Bahrain in a three-match series that included a 50-over match on Thursday.

Their T20 series ended 1-1, but the 50-over match was the tie-breaker, which went in Uganda’s favour by a whisker due to bad light after the match was initially reduced to 30 overs.

Uganda won the toss and elected to field, which proved smart as they were able to put up 162 runs in 30 overs. The star of the show was Robinson Obuya, who scored 47 runs off 62 balls. His opening partner, Raghav Dhawan, struggled initially but managed to put 38 runs on the board from 57 balls. By the time Obuya’s wicket fell, they had built a 79-run partnership.

Shrideep Mangela (14), Dinesh Nakrani (13), Kenneth Waiswa (19), and captain Riazat Ali Shah (13) kept the runs coming as the Cricket Cranes finished their 30 overs. Uganda’s middle-order batters showed they can provide the team with technical security.

The bowlers, including Brian Masaba (2 wickets), Alpesh Ramjani (2 wickets), and Raghav Dhawan (1 wicket), were also effective, delivering much-needed wickets.

With less than a week until the first day of Cricket League B, the focus is now on tying off loose ends.

Earlier in the week, Kenneth Waiswa commented on the advantage of taking on Bahrain. “It has been good for us to test our skills. How they bowl and how they bat is good for us as a team going into the tournament. It is good to know our strengths and our weaknesses,” explained Waiswa.

Uganda will open their account against Singapore on Wednesday next week. Other countries playing in Kampala include Hong Kong China, Italy, Tanzania, and Bahrain.