Uganda's staring at relegation to Div 3

Jan 21, 2014

UGANDA'S already demolished reputation in associate cricket suffered further damage with a 100-run loss to Namibia at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand.

By Charles Mutebi

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier

Namibia 161/9 Uganda 61

(Namibia win by 100 runs) 

UGANDA'S already demolished reputation in associate cricket suffered further damage with a 100-run loss to Namibia on Tuesday at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand. 

Coming into the contest with three straight defeats, two of which were of the humbling flavour, it seemed as if things couldn’t get worse for Johan Rudolph’s men. They did. 

Louis Westhuizen scored a half-century as Namibia reached 161/9 in the allotted overs, which had been reduced to 36. Charles Waiswa, with 4/30, inspired Uganda’s bowling attack to restrict Namibia to a modest total. 

But then it is apparent that Uganda either forgot to pack their bats or lost them somewhere on the way to New Zealand. So Namibia’s seemingly modest total was in fact insurmountable for Davis Karashani’s men, who were bundled out for 61 runs in 17.5 overs. 

Philemon Mukobe, who was reprimanded for violating ICC’s code of conduct in Uganda’s previous match, was the only Ugandan batsman to reach double figures with 23. Uganda’s top scorers at the tournament Abraham Mutyagaba and Roger Mukasa combined for one run. 

The two opened for Uganda in the first three games, with some measure of effectiveness, but against Namibia, Mukasa was moved to No 5, with Hamza Saleh opening alongside Mutyagaba. It didn’t work as Saleh scored seven runs and Mutyagaba fell for nought. 

Now Uganda’s campaign comes down to Sunday’s playoff against Canada, which will decide who gets relegated to the ICC World Cricket League Division 3.

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