The Cricket Cranes began the decisive final leg of their ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B campaign with a commanding 90-run DLS victory over hosts Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
But this was a victory that demanded patience, resilience and, eventually, a ruthless display of spin bowling.
Uganda captain Riazat Ali Shah won the toss at the Estim Ground, TCA Arena – UDSM and elected to bat.
The Cranes made a flying start, reaching 51 without loss in 5.3 overs, before persistent rain swept across Dar es Salaam.
What followed was a long three-hour interruption, an enforced early lunch and a nervous wait for everyone hoping to see the game resume.
When the rain finally relented, the ground staff worked tirelessly to get the wet outfield playable, including filling damp patches with sawdust to give the umpires — Langton Rusere, Iknow Chabi and tournament referee Owen Chirombe — an opportunity to squeeze in the minimum 20 overs required for a result.
The restart came with the match reduced to a 20-over contest.
And Uganda made the most of their remaining resources.
The Cranes added 91 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their final 14.3 overs, finishing on 142/8.
Raghav Dhawan top-scored with a fluent 43 off 30 balls, while Simon Ssesazi made a composed 35 off 40. Sumeet Verma added 18 before Uganda’s lower order pushed the total beyond 140.
With rain having dramatically shortened the contest, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method added 19 runs to Uganda’s revised score, leaving Tanzania with 162 to win from 20 overs.
If the rain had tested Uganda’s patience, the Cricket Cranes’ spinners showed no mercy when Tanzania began the chase.
Uganda unleashed spin from both ends, with four of the six bowlers used operating as spinners. Only Juma Miyaji and Dinesh Nakrani provided the other bowling options.
The result was devastating.
Henry Ssenyondo produced the day’s outstanding spell, claiming 3/7 from four overs, while Joseph Baguma backed him up with 3/13 from four, including a maiden. It was the former’s most economical and best career spell in List A internationals, and it deservedly won Ssenyondo the Man of the Match award!
Sumeet Verma added 2/6 in 1.4 overs, with Nakrani taking the other wicket.
Tanzania never got going.
Dhrumit Mehta’s explosive 24 off 15 balls briefly threatened to ignite the chase, but once he was dismissed at 30/1, the home side unravelled.
Tanzania slipped from 44/5 to 62/9 before being bowled out for just 71 in 17.4 overs.
Uganda therefore completed a 90-run DLS victory, putting two valuable points on the board and making the perfect start to the final leg.
The Cricket Cranes now turn their attention to Italy on Tuesday, 11 August, at the NTS Ground, TCA Arena – UDSM, before facing Hong Kong-China on Wednesday, 12 August, at the same venue.
One down. Four to go.