Highlights from Day Three in Doha.
• Bad beginning to the day as news filtered in that England-based Ugandan top order batsman Lloyd Paternott was out of the Qatar & India Tour after dislocating his right knee in the 13-run loss to Qatar President’s XI in the Twenty20 Series Opener on Thursday night, February 8 at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium (ATCS) in Doha.
• Up next for the Cricket Cranes was another game under the lights – a Limited Overs (50 overs) Day-Night at the scenic ATCS, Doha on Friday, February 9.00
• Team meeting was at 11am at the ground. Warm up started at midday and toss was 1.15pm ahead of the 1.30pm start.
• Uganda captain Roger Mukasa won his second successive toss of the tour after rightly calling heads. Unlike on Day One when he opted to take the field, he had a change of heart and opted to bat – as per the team strategy on the day.
• Uganda set 191 all out in 46.3 overs. Left-handed debutant Simon Ssesaazi top scored with 62, Vice-captain Brian Masaba added 40 and Hamu Kayondo (30) as the national team collapsed from 121 for 2 to leave 21 balls un-played – poor finish to the innings after a solid start.
• Uganda’s bowlers had their tails wagging as they restricted Qatar to 36 for 3 after 8.5 overs. But a 103-run fourth wicket partnership between Tamoor Sajjad (52) and Inam Ul-Haq (44) stabilised the hosts’ innings.
• From a Man of Match (MOM) performance in Twenty20 where he picked a career best of 6 for 28 in 4, Deus Muhumuza rallied Uganda back into the match by castling out Sajjad at 35.1 overs. Muhumuza ended with impressive figures of 2 for 25 whereas left-arm orthodox spinner Henry Ssenyondo also registered parsimonious figures of 1 for 22 in 10.
• The rest of bowlers; Bilal Hassun (2 for 47 in 8), Charles Waiswa (1 for 12 in 5), Irfan Afridi (1 for 36 in 7) and Riazat Ali Shah (0/24 in 7) bowled in tandem partnerships to wrestle the initiative back Uganda’s way.
• Needing 13 runs off the last over, Shah gave away only seven runs to give Uganda a five-run win to the delight of the dugout led by inspirational coach Steve Tikolo.
• A bad beginning to the day ended into a joyous one with the tour’s first win that saw 21-year-old debutante Ssesaazi and Qatar’s Sajjad take the MOM medals for their match-defining contributions.
Sneak peek into Day 4:
Uganda plays Qatar at 6pm in a Day-Night Twenty20 Match at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium.
NB: Note Qatar and Uganda share a time zone.
