Palghar, May 20. The Cricket Cranes continued their impressive start to the historic Mumbai Tour with a hard-fought 33-run victory over MCA Colts XI in the second 50-over match at the Palghar Dahanu Taluka Sports Association (PDTSA) Oval on Wednesday.
The win gives Uganda a commanding 2-0 lead in the eight-match white-ball series against elite Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) sides, a tour designed to sharpen the team ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B in Tanzania this August and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifiers in Nigeria later this year.
Played under unforgiving Indian heat with temperatures oscillating between 35 and 43 degrees Celsius, the contest demanded both tactical discipline and physical resilience from the visitors. Uganda answered both calls superbly.
Ssesazi shines bright
After losing the toss, Uganda were asked to bat first on another surface expected to reward patience and smart shot selection. Openers Simon Ssesazi and Raghav Dhawan once again gave Uganda a composed foundation. Dhawan battled for a patient 25 off 44 balls before Ssesazi gradually took control of the innings with a masterclass in timing and tempo.
Fresh from narrowly missing a half-century in Game One, the stylish left-hander produced one of Uganda’s finest 50-over knocks away from home, striking 124 off 134 balls decorated with 10 fours and four sixes. Ssesazi controlled the innings expertly, rotating strike fluently while punishing anything loose as Uganda steadily built towards a formidable total.
Uganda’s innings was built around three major partnerships that steadily drained the MCA Colts attack. Gerald Olipa contributed a valuable 33 while all-rounder Dinesh Nakrani continued his excellent tour form with a rapid 50 off just 38 deliveries, his second successive half-century at PDTSA Oval.
Though Uganda again lost wickets late in the innings – surrendering five wickets for 45 runs in the final 4.4 overs – captain Fred Achelam provided a powerful finishing touch with an unbeaten 22 off only 12 balls featuring three boundaries and a six.
Uganda closed on an imposing 299 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs.
Pace attack answers call
Unlike the opening match where Uganda’s spinners dictated proceedings, this time the fast bowlers rose magnificently to the challenge.
MCA Colts began the chase aggressively through strokemaker Kaushik Chikhlikar (36 off 35) and lanky Aadit Degaonkar, who regularly pierced the infield boundaries to keep the required rate under control.
Degaonkar especially threatened to swing the match with a superb 84 off 85 balls while captain Pranav Kela added a composed 32 and Tanish Shetty fought bravely for 40 before he fell as the ninth wicket.
But Uganda’s pacemen consistently found breakthroughs at crucial moments.
Juma Miyaji delivered a match-defining spell through the middle overs, finishing with outstanding figures of 4 for 42. Cosmas Kyewuta complemented him beautifully with 3 for 43 using both the new and old ball intelligently under demanding conditions.
Coach Steve Tikolo later praised the collective bowling effort despite Uganda conceding too many “release balls” and dropping two key catches during a dangerous MCA 90-run partnership for their second wicket.
“We gave away too many boundaries at times but the attitude was excellent,” Tikolo observed after the match.
“Three strong partnerships with the bat got us to 299 and the dressing room remains happy. A happy changing room is a winning changing room and hopefully it stays like that.”
Nakrani chipped in with an early breakthrough while Slow Left Arm Orthodox Henry Ssenyondo cleaned up the tail as MCA Colts were eventually bowled out for 266 with seven balls remaining.
Captain pleased with mentality
Tour captain Fred Achelam was delighted with the team’s response under pressure and praised the collective energy shown throughout the contest.
“I asked the boys to go out there and win and they exactly heeded the call,” Achelam said after the victory.
“The energy and attitude were outstanding. Simon and Raghav were fantastic at the top while the bowlers kept believing even when the game became tight.”
“We need to keep reflecting, continue growing and trust the process. Let’s continue working smart and thinking the game properly. I am proud of the boys.”
Uganda now shifts focus to the third 50-over contest scheduled for Friday, May 22, at the Adani Stadium in Dahanu, where MCA Colts XI are expected to field an even stronger side.
MATCH SUMMARY
Uganda XI 299/9 in 50 overs
Simon Ssesazi 124, Dinesh Nakrani 50, Gerald Olipa 33, Fred Achelam 22*; Tanish Shetty 4/32
MCA Colts XI 266 all out in 48.5 overs
Aadit Degaonkar 84, Tanish Shetty 40, Kaushik Chikhlikar 36; Juma Miyaji 4/42, Cosmas Kyewuta 3/43, Henry Ssenyondo 2/55
Man of Match: Simon Ssesazi of Uganda (124 off 134 – 10 fours & 4 sixes)
Result: Uganda XI won by 33 runs
Series: Uganda lead 2-0
NEXT FIXTURE — MAY 22, 2026
MCA Colts XI vs. Uganda XI
Adani Stadium, Dahanu, Palghar District
50-Over Match, 7am