By Steven Tusiime and Alvin Bagaya
Uganda U19 286/10 in 49.2 overs (Frank Akankwasa 86(74), Siraje Nsubuga 30(52), Abolarin Rasheed 4/30 in 6.2 overs, Danladi Isaac 2/33 in 10 overs) beat Nigeria U19 105/10 IN 37.1 overs (Iyola Runeswe 24(69), Ogundipe Suegun 21(28), Frank Akankwasa 2/8 in 5 overs, Richard Agamire 2/19 in 7 overs
A great lesson for Nigeria U-19 boys as they were schooled by the Uganda baby Cricket Cranes in friendly series opener. The young cricketers from the great West African nation are on a tour to Uganda in preparation for their upcoming Africa Division 2 Under 19 Qualifier in South Africa.
At the Lugogo oval in Kampala, at 10:00 am the first match kicked off and Uganda won the toss and opted to bat first and set a total of 286 runs. Arinaitwe Zephania 31 (25) and Perry Wazombe 23(38) opened the batting for Uganda putting on 62 for the first wicket flying at 10 an over.
Zephaniah started off in his aggressive fashion pouncing onto any loose deliveries while being backed up by the calm and composed Perry Wazombe. The fielding side breaking through after Mohammed Abdulmimuni Taiwo dismissed Zephania for a quick 31.
The Uganda onslaught however seized temporarily when Munir Ismail and Arjuna Robert were dismissed cheaply; All-rounder and Captain Frank Akankwasa 86(74) calming the innings with an assured and combative half ton to counter attack the probing overs of the spin attack from Danladi Isaac and Abolarin Rasheed.
Uganda Captain Frank Akankwasa;
“We lost early wickets but we managed to rebuild. We had plan of batting out at least 20 overs with Siraje but managed only 18; which was good because we put together 117 runs.”
On Captaincy;
“Scoring runs in my first innings as captain for my country is memorable and also having the lads in the field responding to plans was a good experience”
Frank put on 117 for the 5th wicket with fellow all-rounder Siraje Nsubuga who was more conservative with his stroke play and preferred to let his captain steer proceedings. Frank’s debut half century as Captain was coloured with six boundaries and five maximums; some that travelled all the way out of the oval.
The partnership frustrated the tourists attack taking the innings past the 200 run mark before Frank and Siraje both fell in quick succession; the tail then pushed the innings to 286 Richard Agamire 22(30) putting in a late show. Mohammed Taiwo together with Abolarin Rasheed and Danladi Isaac the peak of the Nigerian bowling.
With a target of 286 facing them began with a steady partnership of 45 for the first wicket with Runeswe Iyola 24(69) and Olaleye Elijah 11(45) prudent in their stroke play and leaving anything outside off with good judgment.
The tourists however quickly collapsed from 1/45 in the 17th over to 5/56 in the 24th over; the brief resistance during the 6th wicket stand of 26 from Segun Ogundipe 21(28) and Jimoh Adinoyi 14(30); Agamire finding the breakthrough to the tail and onwards to a massive 8 run victory.
Nigeria Captain Sylvester Okpe;
"I guess Uganda batted Well, their strategy worked well for them in using the powerplay; playing on turf pitch was a big change for us and we took a while to adjust"
On the Batting;
"The batsmen are still getting used turf. We wait to see how we progress in the series”
Action continues tomorrow at Lugogo Cricket Oval at 10:00a.m as the Nigerian Under 19 look to bounce back.
