UGANDA’S TOUR OF NAMIBIA
Game One: Results Summary
Uganda 131/9 (20 overs)
Ssesazi 33, Obuya 28, Baig 16; Balt 2/15, Loftie-Eaton 2/15, Leicher 2/24
Namibia A 132/2 (13.2 overs)
Loftie-Eaton 72*, Leicher 48; Juma 1/19, Shah (1/25)
Namibia A won by 8 wickets
Next Fixture – March 19 – Second T20
Namibia A vs Uganda, HP Oval – Windhoek
Windhoek – March 19: The Cricket Cranes suffered an 8-wicket defeat to Namibia A in the opening match of their five-game white-ball tour at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek on Wednesday, March 19.
Uganda captain Riazat Ali Shah lost the toss and was put in to bat, but his side made a promising start through Simon Ssesazi and Robinson Obuya, who combined for a fluent 58-run opening stand inside eight overs.
Strong start
Ssesazi (33) and Obuya (28) looked in control before Namibia A clawed back through disciplined bowling.
Uganda’s innings, however, lost momentum after the openers’ departure, with no other batter surpassing 17 runs.
Debutants Anas Baig (16 off 11) and Gerald Olipa (14 off 16) offered brief resistance, while Cosmas Kyewuta added a quick 10 off 5 balls late on.
Middle-order stall
Off-spinner Jan Balt (2/15) triggered the collapse, removing both openers, before captain Dylan Leicher (2/24) and all-rounder Nicol Loftie-Eaton (2/15) tightened Namibia’s grip.
Uganda slipped from 97 for 4 in 13.5 overs to finish on 131 for 9 in their 20 overs.
Clinical chase
In reply, Uganda struck early through Ali Shah (1/25) and Juma Miyaji (1/19) to reduce Namibia A to 46 for 2, but that proved to be the only success with the ball.
Loftie-Eaton anchored the chase with an unbeaten 72 off 36 balls, while Leicher sealed victory with a fluent 48 off 27 as Namibia A reached the target in just 13.2 overs.
All Uganda bowlers conceded above the eight-run mark, as Namibia capitalised on favourable batting conditions.
Assistant coach Jackson Ogwang pointed to the need for improved shot selection and reduced dot-ball percentage after Uganda recorded 56 dot balls in their innings whereas Ali Shah demanded a response.
Uganda will look to bounce back in the second T20 on Thusday, March 19 at the same venue.
UGANDA’S TOUR OF NAMIBIA
Remaining Fixtures
March 19: T20 vs. Namibia A
March 21: T20 vs. Namibia A
March 23: 50 Overs vs. Namibia
March 25: 50 Overs vs. Namibia A
Team Uganda In Namibia
Riazat Ali Shah (Captain), Robinson Obuya, Simon Ssesazi, Anas Mirza Baig, Kenneth Waiswa, Cyrus Kakuru, Charles Musemeza, Juma Miyaji, Cosmas Kyewuta, Bilal Hassun, Henry Ssenyondo, Joseph Baguma, Mathew Musinguzi and Gerald Olipa.
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