DAR ES SALAAM – The Cricket Cranes secured qualification for the next stage of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup pathway but ended their Challenge League B campaign disappointingly, going down to Bahrain by four wickets after surrendering control of a match they had been well placed to win.
Uganda, put in to bat after losing the toss, were bowled out for 204 in 48.1 overs, before Bahrain chased down the target with two balls remaining, finishing on 209 for 6 in 49.4 overs.
The result left Uganda on 22 points, four less than champions Italy, who finished with 26 points after beating Tanzania earlier in the day.
Hong Kong China finished third on 20 points, while Bahrain moved to 13.
The top two advance to the World Cup Qualifier Play-off, keeping Uganda firmly alive in the qualification race.
A Platform Wasted
Uganda appeared to have laid the foundations for a competitive total.
Raghav Dhawan played the anchor role superbly, making 80 from 109 balls, while captain Riazat Ali Shah supplied momentum with 61 off 63.
The Cricket Cranes were 195/5 and seemingly positioned to push beyond 220.
Instead, the innings collapsed.
The final five wickets fell for only nine runs from 21 balls, leaving Uganda all out for 204.
That late collapse would ultimately define the match.
Bahrain Hold Their Nerve
Bahrain’s chase was built around Fiaz Ahmed, who remained unbeaten on 78 from 121 balls.
Captain Asif Ali contributed 51 from 68 before falling to Joseph Baguma, while Muhammad Safdar added 30.
Uganda’s bowlers created enough pressure to keep the contest alive.
Alpesh Ramjani finished with 2/34, Joseph Baguma 2/31 and Kenneth Waiswa 1/30.
But the bowling attack lacked the sustained bite required to force the breakthrough at the crucial moments.
Bahrain kept their wickets in hand and reached 209 for 6 in 49.4 overs.
Missed Chances, Missed Opportunities
Uganda’s problems were not confined to the batting.
The Cricket Cranes put down a handful of catches and missed several opportunities for run-outs, including late in the chase when Bahrain were fighting to stay within reach.
Those moments mattered.
Had Uganda converted even some of those chances, the pressure on Bahrain would have been significantly greater.
Instead, coach Steve Tikolo’s troops were left chasing the game, and Bahrain held their nerve to cross the line with two deliveries remaining.
A Chastening Finish
The defeat brought Uganda’s final leg to a 2-3 win-loss record.
It was a stark contrast to the excitement of the previous evening, when the team received confirmation that qualification for the next stage had been secured.
That qualification remains a significant achievement.
But the manner of the last match’s defeat has left the technical team with plenty to confront.
Assistant coach Jackson Ogwang said the campaign must now be put behind the team quickly, but not without first absorbing the lessons.
“This bad campaign must be put behind us. The guys need to forget it quickly, soldier on forward with purpose and learn very fast from this show,” said the youthful gaffer.
Ogwang believes the disappointment must become fuel for the next assignment rather than baggage carried into the next series.
For head coach Tikolo, however, the performance demanded a stronger response.
After the match, Tikolo expressed his disappointment to the players, telling them:
“Guys, you have disappointed me very much today!” said Tikolo in his honest assessment of things on this just-concluded Dar leg.
The coach later sounded an alarm over the team’s approach and the standards expected at the international level.
Tikolo challenged the players to decide what kind of side they want to be going forward.
“If we want to continue playing this brand of cricket, then we must think about our future.”
He urged the Cranes to stop merely talking about being a big team and instead produce the cricket expected of one.
“We have to play like the big team we say we are, immediately. Results like this are unwanted.”
Job Far From Done
Uganda leave Dar es Salaam with qualification secured, but also with a sizeable amount of work on their plate.
The Challenge League campaign has shown the Cricket Cranes’ capacity to dominate opponents, respond to setbacks and produce strong performances.
But it has also exposed worrying inconsistencies — particularly with the bat, in the field and in closing matches.
The next stage will demand more.
There will be stronger opposition, greater pressure and fewer opportunities to recover from mistakes.
The pathway remains alive.
But qualification is only the door.
What Uganda does next will determine whether this team walks through it with purpose or simply arrives there carrying the same weaknesses.
The pain of today must become the work of tomorrow.
FINAL RESULT
Bahrain 209/6 (49.4 overs) beat Uganda 204 (48.1 overs) by four wickets.
| Pos | Team | M | W | L | T | D | N/R | PT | NRR |
| 1 | 🇮🇹 ITALY | 15 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | +2.156 |
| 2 | 🇺🇬 UGANDA | 15 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22 | +1.204 |
| 3 | 🇭🇰 HONG KONG, CHINA | 15 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | +0.383 |
| 4 | 🇧🇭 BAHRAIN | 15 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | -0.249 |
| 5 | 🇹🇿 TANZANIA | 15 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | -1.252 |
| 6 | 🇸🇬 SINGAPORE | 15 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2.247 |
Qualification: Italy and Uganda finish in the top two and progress to the next stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup qualification pathway.
UGANDA’S THIRD LEG IN DAR
- Uganda 142/8 vs Tanzania 71 — won by 90 runs (DLS)**
- Uganda 79 vs Italy 192/9 — lost by 113 runs
- Uganda 119 vs Hong Kong 170 — lost by 51 runs
- Uganda 176/2 vs Singapore 175 — won by 8 wickets
- Uganda 204 vs Bahrain 209/6 — lost by 4 wickets
Record: 2 wins, 3 defeats
WHAT COMES NEXT
The Challenge League chapter is closed, but Uganda’s World Cup qualification journey continues.
The Cricket Cranes must now use the disappointment of Dar es Salaam as a starting point for a period of honest assessment, preparation and hard work.
The next assignment will carry greater pressure.
The standards must rise accordingly.
The qualification is secured. The real work starts now.