Arinaitwe satisfied with Bermuda showing

By Charles Mutebi

UGANDA got what they wanted from the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 in Bermuda. They also got the highest individual prize, given to the player deemed the best at the tournament.

After six days of action and a total of 36 matches involving 86 players, Uganda captain Davis Arinaitwe was named player-of-series, making an already successful tournament for the national team more satisfying.

Arinaitwe claimed 10/143 and 10 maidens in 52.2 overs in addition to scoring 75 runs as Uganda finished second of six.

Uganda’s objective at the event was a top-two finish that would guarantee progress to the 2014 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand. They accomplished that with four straight wins, which were then followed by back-to-back defeats, including Sunday’s five-wicket loss to Nepal in the final.

ICC president Alan Isaac congratulated the top two, saying: “Nepal and Uganda are now just one step away from playing in a World Cup.

I am sure they’ll quickly switch their focus and attention to the New Zealand qualifier, try to build on their successes in Bermuda.”

The Nepal defeat ensured a bitter ending for a Ugandan side that had looked superior to all in the first four days of the tournament. 

However, Arinaitwe put the loss in context saying: “Qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier (WCQ) was our primary objective when we got here, we first put our sights on trying to qualify for that tournament, so I felt that for us, that is an achievement that we can take back home”.

Uganda will need a top eight finish at the WCQ to stay in Division 2, making them entitled to an ICC development grant that could be as much as sh1b. 

Arinaitwe’s award, among other things, is a nod to Uganda’s talent and a good indicator of how well Martin Suji’s players can perform at the high level.

That is also why Arthur Kyobe, with 157 runs, scored the fifth most runs at the tournament.