Harare – September 22. Cricket Cranes coach Abhay Sharma was praying for a game like this where his bowlers would be put under pressure and forced to be smart enough to hit the right lengths — and his batsmen tested in a chase.
He exactly got that in Uganda’s 93-run defeat to Namibia in their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier warm-up fixture at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
After skipper Riazat Ali Shah lost the toss, Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus opted to bat first, and the Eagles made the most of the sunny Harare conditions.
Their charge was led by JJ Smit (58 off 36, 5 sixes) and opener Malan Kruger (36 off 18, SR 200) before a brutal cameo from bowling all-rounder Ruben Trumpelmann (32 off 9, 4 sixes) propelled Namibia to 205/6 in 20 overs.
Uganda’s bowlers found it tough – Cosmas Kyewuta (2/61 – 15 runs per over) and Alpesh Ramjani (2/27 – 9 runs per over) picking two wickets each. Only Frank Nsubuga (0/12 in 2 overs) and vice-captain Juma Miyaji (1 for 32 in 4) withstood the carnage on a day the Ugandan bowling suffered to hit the right lengths.
In reply, the Cricket Cranes struggled to stitch meaningful partnerships. Despite Ramjani’s fighting 18 off 15 balls and late resistance from Kyewuta (14 not out off 10 balls), the Eagles’ bowling quartet led by Alexander Volschenk (2/12) and JJ Smit (1/8) restricted Uganda to 112 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs.
Coach Sharma, however, emphasized that such tough outings are part of the preparation process. “We wanted pressure. These are lessons we must quickly learn before the main event. The guys must take and show responsibility,” he noted.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier
Result – First Warm-Up Match at Harare Sports Club
Namibia 205/6 (20 overs) beat Uganda 112/8 (20 overs) by 93 runs
Top scorers: JJ Smit 58* (36), Malan Kruger 36 (18), Ruben Trumpelmann 32 (9)
Uganda best bowler: Alpesh Ramjani 2/27
Uganda batting: Ramjani 18 (15), Kyewuta 14* (10)
Namibia bowling: Volschenk 2/12, Trumpelmann 1/16
Next Fixture Warm-Up Fixture – Wednesday, September 24
Uganda vs Malawi, Takashinga CC – 2.50pm
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