ICC CWC CHALLENGE LEAGUE B
Scores Summary – August 15
Singapore 175 all out (40 overs)
Manpreet Singh 50, Raheel Thakkar 33
Juma Miyagi 4/22, Kenneth Waiswa 3/28, Joseph Baguma 3/37
Uganda 176/2 (32.5 overs)
Raghav Dhawan 77*, Gerald Olipa 40, Simon Ssesazi 37
Uganda won by 8 wickets
Man of the Match: Raghav Dhawan (Uganda) 77* off 97 & 1 catch
DAR ES SALAAM — AUGUST 15. Raghav Dhawan carried his bat for an unbeaten 77 as the Cricket Cranes responded to consecutive defeats with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Singapore in their ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B encounter at the Estim Ground – TCA Arena, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM).
Chasing 175 in a match reduced to 40 overs after a 90-minute rain interruption, Uganda reached 176/2 in 32.5 overs, winning with 43 balls to spare.
The victory lifts Uganda to 22 points, level with Italy at the top of the six-team standings, although Italy retain first position on a superior Net Run Rate (2.328).
Hong Kong-China remain third on 20 points, meaning the race for the two qualification places remains alive heading into the final fixtures.
A platform built to last
Uganda’s chase was built around patience at the top and controlled aggression thereafter.
Dhawan and Simon Ssesazi put together 107 for the opening wicket, the tournament’s biggest partnership in the final leg, laying the foundation for a comfortable chase.
The pair negotiated the early stages carefully before Ssesazi was bowled by Chandramouli Sridev for 37 off 59 balls in the 22nd over.
That brought young Gerald Olipa to the crease, and the right-hander immediately changed the tempo.
Olipa struck 40 off just 30 balls, including five fours and a six, as he and Dhawan added 50 for the second wicket.
His eight-over stay at the crease provided the decisive acceleration before he was bowled by a delivery from Sridev that kept low at 157/2 in 29.3 overs.
At that point Uganda needed only 20 runs from 63 balls.
Vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa joined Dhawan, and the pair calmly completed the job, with Dhawan carrying his bat through the innings.
Dhawan: We badly needed this
Player of the Match (POM) Dhawan said the team understood the importance of the victory and worked deliberately towards it.
“We badly needed this victory. After the last two games, the important thing was to settle ourselves and build a proper partnership. The wicket wasn’t the easiest, so we knew we had to give ourselves time before playing our shots.”
Dhawan praised Ssesazi for helping establish the platform before turning his attention to Olipa’s aggressive contribution.
“Ssesazi and I knew that if we could bat deep, we would put ourselves in a very good position. Olipa then came in and played a fantastic innings. He was positive from the start and took the pressure away from me. For a young player, the way he went about it was excellent,” added Dhawan.
Dhawan’s unbeaten 77 came from 97 balls, with eight fours and a six.
Miyagi sets the tone with the ball
Earlier, Uganda’s bowlers had produced the platform for victory.
Fast bowler Juma Miyagi ripped through Singapore’s top order with an outstanding 4/22 from eight overs, including two maidens.
He was backed by medium pacer Waiswa, who claimed 3/28, while off-spinner Joseph Baguma returned 3/37 as Singapore were bowled out for 175 in exactly 40 overs.
Singapore had stumbled to 22/3, but skipper Manpreet Singh’s 50 and Raheel Thakkar’s 33 helped them recover.
They reached 85/4 after 20 overs and 125/5 after 30, before Uganda regained control and dismissed them for 175.
Ogwang: The fight is coming back
Assistant coach Jackson Ogwang credited the players for responding to the pressure surrounding the team.
“The boys have shown a lot of fight. We had our KPIs going into the game and we ticked them off. The hundred-run opening partnership was very important, and then the 50-run second-wicket partnership gave us the control we needed.”
Ogwang conceded that Uganda had been under pressure following consecutive defeats but said the players’ quality began to emerge once they settled into the contest.
“We were under pressure, there’s no doubt about that. But once the players settled into the game, the quality started to come out. We just needed to stay in the contest, keep doing the simple things well and allow the players to express themselves.”
He also reserved special praise for Miyagi’s new-ball spell.
“Juma was outstanding with the new ball. His pace and discipline created early havoc and put Singapore under pressure from the beginning. That gave the rest of the bowling attack something to build on.”
A two-point swing at the top
The victory is significant beyond the result.
Uganda now sit on 22 points, level with Italy, while Hong Kong-China are on 20.
Italy have two matches remaining – against Hong Kong, China on August 17 and Tanzania on August 18 – while Uganda have one fixture left against Bahrain on August 18.
The top two teams from Challenge League B advance to the next stage of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualification pathway.
For now, Uganda have given themselves breathing space after a difficult spell.
Next up: Bahrain
The Cricket Cranes will return to action on Tuesday, August 18, against Bahrain at the NTS Ground, TCA Arena – UDSM.
With qualification within reach, Uganda will know exactly what another victory could mean.