U-19 Cricket World Cup: End of road for Uganda

2018 U-19 CRICKET WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION

Africa Division One:

Results

Uganda 60 Kenya 61/3

(Kenya win by 7 wickets)-249 balls remaining

Botswana 165 Ghana 167/8

(Ghana win by 2 wickets)

The sad tale in Uganda's cricket continues with a shock defeat to the Uganda U-19 side  by Kenya and an end to the 2018 World Cup dream.

Just when Uganda looked like they had their destiny wrapped under their clutches, things suddenly went down south in the dying moments on Saturday.

The Baby Cricket Cranes bowed to unnecessary pressure, losing by seven wickets against Kenya in their last game of the four-team tournament at the Gymkhana Oval in Nairobi.

In the winner-takes-all contest, Uganda produced her poorest innings against Kenya after deciding to bat first, posting 60 and all out courtesy of Kenya's Sachin Bhudia and Gerald Mwendwa who picked three wickets apiece.

Uganda's top five (Zepahania Arinaitwe, Ronald Opio, Steven Wabwose, Eddy Agaba and Kenneth Waiswa) combined for an embarrassing total of 11.

Chasing the game, Kenya needed to do so in 9.2 overs but they had already done so by the 8.3 over. Kenya won on difference in the net run rate (NRR) having finished on the same points (10) with Uganda.

Man of the match Timothy Achieng struck 26 not out as Kenya turned the tables on the "Baby Cricket Cranes" to clinch the sole ticket to World Cup in New Zealand next year.

Uganda's immediate neighbours qualified for their first World Cup since 2002.

Uganda has only been at two World Cups - in 2004 (Bangladesh) and 2006 (Sri Lanka).