Cricket: Uganda collapse against Hong Kong again

ICC World Challenge League B

Hong Kong 170 Uganda 119

(Hong Kong win by 51 runs)

The wheels are coming off for Uganda at the ICC World Challenge League B, where a second loss in two days has put the Cricket Cranes in danger of blowing their chances of advancing to the next stage of World Cup qualification.

On Wednesday, it was Italy. Today, it was Hong Kong, who also batted first and found Uganda incapable of chasing a seemingly easy target.

Hong Kong scored 170 all out in 50 overs, with Joseph Baguma and Henry Ssenyondo picking three wickets apiece, while Juma Miyagi added two. Uganda skipper Riazat Shah had won the toss and opted to bowl, a decision that seemed to pay off at the end of Hong Kong’s innings.

But once again a good situation quickly turned into a nightmare as a batting collapse condemned the Cricket Cranes to a defeat that left them just two points ahead of Hong Kong in third place. That means Uganda are beginning to look over their shoulders with two games to go.

Lose again and Hong Kong would move level on points with another victory, setting up a testy climax in the final round, where the final qualification ticket would be up for grabs between the two countries.

For Uganda, this turn of events seems incredible given their assured position coming into the tournament. This is the same Uganda that humbled Hong Kong in a trial contest a few days ago. Now, it can’t even bat out 50 overs against the same opponents, who dismissed them for 119 in 36.5 overs.

Gerald Olipa, with 60 runs, was the game’s top scorer.