Castle Lite T20I Series
Saturday Result
Namibia 177 runs for 4 wickets for 20 runs
Uganda 178 runs for 3 wickets in 19.5 overs
Uganda won by 7 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)
Fixture - Sunday, April 10
Namibia vs. Uganda
1 pm, Trustco United CC
Having gone down by 8 wickets in Castle Lite T20I Series opener on Friday evening, the Cricket Cranes pumped up themselves to stun Namibia by 7 wickets and forthwith draw the series level at the Trustco United Cricket Club Oval in Windhoek today.
The three-match series decider takes place tomorrow afternoon at the same oval and the Cricket Cranes will be eager to double the act against the Southern Africans, who have already qualified for the T20 World Cup in Australia this year courtesy of their Super 12 finish at the last year's edition.
To reach the coveted showpiece, Uganda must fly to Zimbabwe in July and finish among the first two nations in the ICC T20 Global Qualifier B.
Cricket Cranes coach Laurence Mahatlane has always been preaching; trusting the process to his troops since his arrival in the Pearl of Africa in 2020 and when the Cranes put the gaffer's words into practice, they achieved a rare milestone in their first T20 International victory over the Eagles.
Having won the toss and asked the opposition to bat, Captain Brian Masaba expertly rotated his bowlers as Namibia limped to 75 for 3 after 11 overs.
But their captain Gerhard Erasmus had other ideas. He set the park ablaze with an unbeaten century of 100 off just 47 balls to help Namibia set a mammoth 177 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Riazat Ali Shah stood out the ball, registering 2 for 24 in 4 overs, and was also the anchorman of Uganda's chase with a 43-ball half-ton of 57 runs not out as Man of Match Dinesh Nakrani put the hosts to the sword with a chance-less inning of 77 runs off 39 balls that were littered with eight fours and three big sixes to give Uganda a shocking but deserved victory.
Early Arnold Otwani (16 off 10) and Kenneth Waiswa with 24 runs off 24 balls had given Uganda a solid platform for the chase before they perished as they looked to up the ante.
Tomorrow is the series decider and Uganda will once again be expected to throw the kitchen sink at the opposition, who have also vowed not to play second fiddle.
Namibia is ranked 16th in the world whereas Uganda is nine places away at 25.
