By Innocent Ndawula
ICC T20 World Cup Africa Final
Results – Day Four
Kenya 145/6 Uganda 144/9
Kenya won by 1 run
Nigeria 135/8 Ghana 107/8
Nigeria won by 28 runs
Botswana 46/10 Namibia 50/0
Namibia won by 10 wickets (with 97 balls remaining)
Fixtures – Thursday, May 23
At University Oval, Kyambogo
9:30am: Botswana vs Kenya
1:50pm: Uganda vs Ghana
At Lugogo Cricket Ground
1:50pm: Nigeria vs Namibia
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Final 2019
|
TEAM |
M |
W |
L |
T |
N/R |
PTS |
NRR |
|
Namibia |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
4.547 |
|
Kenya |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1.363 |
|
Nigeria |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0.394 |
|
Uganda |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0.150 |
|
Ghana |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-2.473 |
|
Botswana |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-3.028 |
Is it all over? Can Uganda still snatch one of the two slots at stake for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 World Cup Global Qualifier in United Arab Emirates (UAE) scheduled for October 11 – November 3?
If these two questions were thrown around to the hundreds of fans that packed-to-the-rafters the Lugogo Cricket Ground pavilion and different corners around the oval after Uganda lost to Kenya by one run at Lugogo Oval, the answers can be as interesting and as candid as anyone’s imagination.
The fans were static and the Cricket Cranes were blank-faced as Kenya, led by bowler Elijah Otieno (3/37) ignited the epic celebrations that ensured the Lions stay unbeaten in the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Final with a perfect three despite his last delivery being smoked out of the pack by Riazat Ali Shah.
Shah finished unbeaten on 44 off 35 balls (3 fours & 2 sixes) but it was Kenya prancing the turf with high fives as they remained in pole position, alongside pre-tourney favourites Namibia, to grab one of the two slots to the Airbus to UAE in early October.
Heartbreak again
For the Ugandans, it was a case of rubbing salt onto the 2017 wounds that have never healed when Uganda got relegated from Division III to World Cricket League Division IV – another ICC event hosted by Uganda.
It was a surreal moment that the curse still lives and pure heartbreak for the partisan fans that must now resort to calculators and divine intervention if Uganda is to sneak through the back door for a slot into the coveted Global Qualifier.
In a team sport, it is always going to be hard to blame anyone especially after a one-run loss. But coach Steve Tikolo, for once, was not shy to highlight the moment he believes was Uganda’s downfall.
“At the end of it, it is disappointing. Losing by one run hurts. If I may fault my side then it has got to be the time Dinesh Nakrani got out. It really hurt us. Both teams played good cricket today and hats off to Kenya for pulling off victory,” said Tikolo in reference to beginning of the 13th over when Nakrani (19 off 14) holed out to Dhiren Gondaria in extra cover off the bowling of Shem Ngoche (1/21 in 4 overs) to leave Uganda tumbling at 79 for 5. At that moment Uganda needed 67 runs from 48 balls and was well within the required target and Duckworth Lewis & Stern (DLS) par score.
Tikolo was also realistic in his assessment of Uganda’s chances.
“Our progress chances are now very dim. We had their backs on the wall but two overs in the first innings (17th & 18th over) swung the game away from us into their favour. Kenya and Namibia stand a better chance of qualification now,” an evidently sad Tikolo added.
Rakep rebuilding lesson
After Ngoche won the toss and elected to bat, Kenya crawled through their innings and looked like they would not reach 110 runs at one stage. They were 73 for 4 in 15 overs but Rakep Patel (51* off 22 balls including three fours and five sixes) stepped on the gas with 19 runs in the 16th over with his captain Shem Ngoche (22 off 11). The pair then blazed 18 runs in the 17th, 11 off the 18th and finally 15 runs off the last (20th) for a total of 72 runs in the last five overs to take the game out of Uganda’s control.
Quick flashback will tell you that the Cranes also had Namibia on the wall at 53 for 4 after eight overs before the Eagles cantered to 166 for 7 enroute their 42-run win on Tuesday. Same story on Wednesday (May 22) as Kenya recovered from 15 for 2 after 2.5 overs thanks to fiery paceman Charles Waiswa (4/38)’s spell that prized out Alex Obanda and Dhiren Gondaria early. These two games were those of clear fine margins and the results could surely have gone the other way – with Uganda triumphant.
But a 47-run third wicket partnership between Irfan Karim (28 off 37) and veteran Collins Obuya (21 off 33) rebuilt the eternal foes’ innings with Rakep adding the final flourish to spur Kenya.
“I do it for my team,” Rakep said, during the post-match presentation, after picking his second straight Man-of-Match award in two days. “I like to play under pressure. That’s when I thrive most.”
The defeat was however a more than bitter pill to take for Uganda captain Roger Mukasa, who has impressed with his stylish leadership but miserably struggled with the bat.
“I just want to thank the fans for coming. We love you very much,” an emotional Mukasa said while holding back his tears under deep breath.
Match of the tourney
Aside Uganda’s loss, the match was a big advert for game in Africa, especially Uganda with the crowd in full voice throughout the game. Also the rapturous welcome to international cricket the 12th men gave to the 17-year-old debutant Rogers Olipa was something to behold. In a nutshell, the derby was every inch more entertaining and thrilling than actually anticipated because it didn’t disappoint.
Two defeats in two days saw Uganda slip to fourth place but in this bumper schedule tournament, there is no time to weep for too long and the Cricket Cranes will be looking to bury the hatchet when they lock horns with Ghana at the University Oval in Kyambogo on Thursday afternoon before wrapping up the showpiece with a clash against Nigeria on Friday evening.
And as Uganda approach their remaining two games, they will be full of belief that Ngoche’s words come into fruition. “In cricket, anything can happen. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” as Ngoche said ahead of his team’s match against Botswana.
Uganda fans will have the calculators out, hope that one of the chasing pack (Botswana, Nigeria & Ghana) can shock one of the ‘big boys’ and the pray that their team can whitewash the two West African sides in their last two encounters. All a bit more theoretical but not for the naysayers!
Southern & West Africa derbies
In the Southern Africa derby, One Day International (ODI) status nation Namibia remained unbeaten and top of the charts with a better Net Run Rate (NRR) than that of Kenya after bowling out Botswana for 46 runs thanks to Christoffel Viljoen (5/9) in 12.1 overs before chasing the target in 23 balls with Niko Davin plundering 37 not out off just 16 balls to win with 97 balls remaining.
Namibia take on Nigeria, who have two wins in three matches, and will be intent on maintaining their 100 per cent record.
In the West African derby, Nigeria avenged their defeat to Ghana in the Africa ‘A’ Regional Qualifier last year with a sweet 28-run victory that was celebrated by the big Ogas like a Cup final.
Nigeria set 135 with captain Ademola Onikoyi blasting 49 runs off 35 balls but it was Vincent Adewoye who snapped up the Man of Match award with a superb all-round performance; 23* off 13 including two fours and two sixes in the first innings and an aggressive four-over spell of military medium during which he claimed four scalps for only 18 runs to restrict Ghana to 107 for 8 in 20 overs.
What a day of cricket! Priceless indeed!