Nepal beats Uganda to win ICC Division III cricket title

Oct 30, 2014

A six wicket haul by Roger Mukasa could not save Uganda in their bid to lift the ICC Division III cricket title in Malaysia, as they lost to favourites Nepal by 62 runs in the final held at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

By Norman Katende

ICC Division III play-off Results

Final: Nepal 223, Uganda 161

(Nepal wins by 62 runs)

3rd place: Singapore 169, Malaysia 172/3

(Malaysia wins by 7 wickets)

5th place: Bermuda 113, USA 118

(USA wins by 10 wickets)

A six wicket haul by Roger Mukasa could not save Uganda in their bid to lift the ICC Division III cricket title in Malaysia, as they lost to favourites Nepal by 62 runs in the final held at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Mukasa also hit a half century to take the man of the match accolades despite his team failing to chase Nepal’s 223 runs. Despite the loss, Uganda had already qualified to play in Division II after finishing among the top two in the six-nations tournament.

Early half centuries from Nepal’s opening duo of Sagar Pun (64) and Naresh Budayair (51), who had a 107 run partnership before it was broken by Henry Ssenyondo who bowled and caught Budayair, gave Nepal a good starting ground.

Mukasa then caught Sagar who mistimed a Davis Arinaitwe delivery before Mukasa struck.

He bowled Binod Bhandari (09), claimed hard hitter Gyanendra Malla (56, caught by Hamu Kayondo), Aarif Sheikh ( 8, caught by Frank Nsubuga), Sompal Kami (7, caught by Lawrence Ssematimba) and Shaktu Gauchan (00, caught by Arinaitwe), for 27 runs.

The chase had some drama with opening batsman Mukasa retiring at 23 runs to get treatment, but later came back to become Uganda’s top scorer at 53 runs, one of only two players who surpassed the 20 run mark.

He hit four boundaries and three sixes as he faced 52 balls before he was caught by Regmi off a Bhuvarn Karki’s delivery. Hamu Kayondo (24) is the other player who managed to go over 20 as Uganda crumbled to Karki’s bowling that saw him claim four wickets against 39 runs with Regmi taking 2 for 29 runs.

But the technical official felt it befitting to crown Mukasa with the man of the match performance.