Cricket Cranes inch closer to historic world cup qualification

Uganda 162/5 Kenya 129 (Uganda win by 33 runs)
Today: Uganda v Rwanda (10:30 am)

The World Cup is no longer a dream for the Cricket Cranes. It is all but a reality.

All that is left is a victory over Rwanda today at 10.30 am to make it official, but surely what would prevent Uganda from winning this, their final game at the T20 Men’s ICC Africa Regional World Cup qualifier?

Sport loves shocks but arguably loves fairy tales more, and there will be few bigger in 2023 than Uganda’s maiden qualification for a senior ICC World Cup. The odds, which were firmly against Uganda at the start tournament, are also massively in their favour now.

The gap between Uganda and Rwanda in the world rankings is 39 places, Rwanda have not won a single game at the tournament, and they have never beaten Uganda.

Maybe the elements could get in the way, but even an abandoned game would still see Uganda finish in second place, and that is all they need to do to confirm one of the biggest achievements in the history of Ugandan sport.

Qualifying for a senior cricket World Cup is not something that seemed realistic just last week when Uganda arrived in Namibia. Yet they will be joining Namibia and South Africa as Africa’s representatives at next year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies if they see off Rwanda.

“The job is not done,” said Uganda skipper Brian Masaba after yesterday’s 33-run win over Kenya that put the Cricket Cranes on the brink of history.

Opener Simon Ssesazi smashed a match-winning 60 off 50. Courtesy Photo

The contest started with the two sides tied on points and seemingly on a level playing field, but the Cricket Cranes showed why they had won seven of 11 previous T20 meetings against Kenya.

Opener Simon Ssesazi, who enjoys playing against Kenya, delivered a match-winning innings, scoring a game-best 60 off 50 and, in so doing, broke the record for the most T20 sixes for Uganda. He is now on 57, two ahead of Riazat Shah.

“I really needed to step up,” said Ssesazi.

“Everyone was encouraging me (during my loss of form), and I am glad I have given people what they want.”

Ssesazi’s was the peak performance in a game that had many outstanding contributions on the Ugandan roster.

Shah’s 26 off 23, Ramjani’s 19 off 11, and, of course, unbeaten Dinesh Nakrani’s 40 off 23 that helped to accelerate the total towards the final overs all stand out. And then there were Ramjani’s two huge wickets (of Collins Obuya and Shem Ngoche) that came in quick succession and took away the hope from Kenya’s chase.

Shah took 2/18 from three overs, while Bilal Hassan cleaned out Kenya’s lower order to finish with 4/39 – Uganda bowling out their rivals with an over to spare.

It was a resounding display. The party is just about to begin.