Below Par. The Baby Cricket Cranes have failed to find the winning formula in their first two matches at the on-going continental championship in Lagos, Nigeria. PHOTO/ICC-AFRICA
The Baby Cricket Cranes have endured a tough start in Lagos – Nigeria, suffering consecutive defeats to regional rivals Tanzania and Kenya. With two losses in as many games, Uganda’s chances of qualification are hanging by a thread, making their upcoming fixtures must-win encounters.
Game One: Uganda Falter Against Tanzania
Uganda elected to field first after winning the toss at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Oval. Their decision initially paid off, with Musa Majid and Abdul Aziz Tandia striking early to remove Tanzania’s top-order duo of Dylan Manish Thakkar and Omary Koba Ramathan cheaply. However, a resolute 97-run stand between Karim Kiseto (51) and captain Laksh Bakrania (60) helped Tanzania recover to post 189/8 in their 50 overs.
Uganda’s chase never quite got going, as wickets fell at regular intervals. Captain Gerald Olipa (11) and Devansh Patel (25 off 84 balls) attempted to stabilize the innings, but a disciplined Tanzanian bowling attack led by Bakrania (4/27) and Hamza Ally Onai (4/18) dismantled the batting lineup. Uganda was bundled out for 116 in 39 overs, handing Tanzania a comfortable 73-run victory.
Game Two: Kenya Rout Uganda in Low-Scoring Contest
Looking to bounce back against Kenya at the University of Lagos Oval, Uganda’s struggles continued. After opting to bat first, Uganda was skittled for a mere 69 runs in 19.5 overs – the lowest total of the qualifiers so far. Only Peter Ocen (28) showed resistance, while the rest of the crumbled under relentless pressure.
Krishil Patel starred, picking up 4 wickets for 11 runs, with Neel Doshi (3/13) and Anthony Ndungu (3/25). With a small target of 70 to chase, Kenya lost three wickets as they cruised to a 7-wicket win in 34.5 overs.
What Next for Uganda?
After two heavy defeats, the Baby Cricket Cranes now have minimal room for error as they face Sierra Leone on Tuesday April 1 at the UNILAG Oval. A win is imperative if they are to salvage any hopes of qualifying for the U-19 World Cup. The team will need to regroup, particularly in the batting department, to avoid further setbacks in the tournament.
Scorecards Summary:
Match 1: Tanzania vs Uganda
Tanzania 189/8 in 50 Overs (Karim Kiseto 51, Laksh Bakrania 60; Musa Majid 3/26, A.Aziz Tandia 3/27)
Uganda 116/10 in 39 Overs (Devansh Patel 25; Laksh Bakrania 4/27, Hamza Ally Onai 4/18)
Tanzania won by 73 runs.
Match 2: Uganda vs Kenya
Uganda 69/10 in 19.5 Overs (Peter Ocen 28; Krishil Patel 4/11, Neel Doshi 3/13, Anthony Ndungu 3/25)
Kenya 70/3 in 34.5 Overs (Stian Smith 29; Rayan Kassam 16*; Musa Majid 2/19, Abdul Aziz Tandia 1/9)
Kenya won by 7 wickets.
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