Waiswa’s Four-For Fires Cricket Cranes to Second Win

Kenneth Waiswa starred with four wickets for 18 runs as the Cricket Cranes beat Lesotho by five wickets in Abuja to make it two wins from two at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C. Uganda bowled Lesotho out for 87 and reached 89/5 in 12.3 overs, strengthening their push for a place in the Africa Regional Final.

ABUJA, OCTOBER 21. Uganda secured their second consecutive victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C, beating Lesotho by five wickets at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium NCF Oval 2 in Abuja earlier this afternoon.

The Cricket Cranes bowled Lesotho out for 87 in 19.3 overs before reaching 89 for five in 12.3 overs. Vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa led Uganda’s bowling effort with four wickets for 18 runs from four overs and was named Player of the Match (POTM).

Running The Traffic. Vice captain Kenneth Waiswa helps with the field setting during his bowling spell. He snared his second best T20I bowling figures.

Waiswa leads Uganda’s bowling effort

After losing the toss, Uganda put Lesotho under early pressure, reducing them to 30 for four. Pius Oloka, making his T20 International debut, claimed one wicket for 14 runs in four overs, while Joseph Baguma, who also struck with his 50th T20 International wicket for the Cricket Cranes.

Former Lesotho captain Maaz Khan offered resistance with 38 off 32 balls, including four sixes and one four. His dismissal at 77 for six, caught by wicketkeeper Cyrus Kakuru off Waiswa, triggered a late collapse.

Lesotho lost their final four wickets for 10 runs to be dismissed for 87. Waiswa finished with four for 18, Enock Kasaija took two for 12, while Riazat Ali Shah, Joseph Baguma and Oloka claimed one wicket apiece.

Debut Delight. Oloka made his T20 International debut with a disciplined four-over spell, taking one wicket for 14 runs as Uganda tightened the screws on Lesotho.

Uganda complete the chase

Uganda’s reply began poorly as Robinson Obuya was dismissed for a golden duck and Raghav Dhawan fell for 10, both trapped leg-before by the new Lesotho captain Ts’episo Chaoana.

Riazat Ali Shah counter-attacked with 26 off 15 balls, including three sixes and a four, before becoming Chaoana’s third victim. Gerald Olipa added 20 off 11 balls, but his dismissal and Kenneth Waiswa’s departure left Uganda at 64 for five.

Sumeet Verma remained unbeaten on 20 off 22 balls, while Alpesh Ramjani contributed 11 not out from 13 deliveries. Verma finished the contest with a six as Uganda reached 89 for five in 12.3 overs to win by five wickets.

Chase Aces. Sumeet Verma (R) and Alpesh Ramjani (L) held their nerve, finishing unbeaten on 20 and 11 respectively before the former sealed Uganda’s five-wicket win with a six.

Waiswa calls for improvement

Despite the victory, Waiswa said Uganda still had room to improve, particularly with the bat. He praised the bowling discipline and the reduction in extras but felt the team should have completed the chase with fewer wickets lost.

“We improved with the bowling with the lines we bowled and from 12 extras yesterday to four today and more importantly we restricted them to a low score,” Waiswa also a former national U-19 captain.

“Our undoing today is that we gave the opposition at least three more wickets. We should have chased down the target for two wickets. That would have been smart cricket and it would have been to our standard.”

The Cricket Cranes are seeking a top-two finish in the six-team qualifier to advance to the Africa Regional Final on the road to the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Uganda’s next fixtures are against The Gambia on October 23, Mozambique on October 24 and Nigeria on October 25.

Batting Pillars. Captain Riazat Ali Shah (L) and young gun Gerald Olipa strategise in between the overs. The pair contributed 20 apiece in the chase.

ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP AFRICA SUB-REGIONAL QUALIFIER C

Scores Summary – October 21

Lesotho 87 all out (19.3 overs)

Maaz Khan 38, Lerotholi Gabriel 14, Inshaf Farook 8; Kenneth Waiswa 4/18, Enock Kasaija 2/12.

Uganda 89/5 (12.3 overs)

Riazat Ali Shah 26, Gerald Olipa 20, Sumeet Verma 20*, Alpesh Ramjani 11*; Ts’episo Chaoana 3/13, MohmedDuvesh Patel 1/15, Gladwin Thamae 1/13.

Uganda won by five wickets

Player of the Match: Kenneth Waiswa (Uganda) — 4/18.

Milestone: Pius Oloka made his T20 International debut.

Milestone: Joseph Baguma reached 50 T20 International wickets.

Winning Unit. Two games, two wins—the Cricket Cranes keep their qualification campaign on track after a five-wicket victory over Lesotho despite the below-par batting show.

UGANDA’S REMAINING FIXTURES

October 23: The Gambia vs Uganda — 3:50pm EAT, NCF Oval 2

October 24: Uganda vs Mozambique — 11:30am EAT, NCF Oval 2

October 25: Nigeria vs Uganda — 3:50pm EAT, NCF Oval 1

Qualification: The top two teams advance to the Africa Regional Final on the road to the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

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