Cricket Cranes will start their pursuit to maintain top spot at the Challenge League B summit when they play hosts Jersey today afternoon.
The task is simple for Team Uganda! Five wins will guarantee them a passage into the next round of the qualifiers but if that is not achieved, four wins might just be sufficient if other results also go their way.
The stakes in this tournament are very high for the team that finishes top of the table as a shot at ODI cricket is a realistic opportunity at the next round of qualifiers.
The World Cup dream for the 2023 50-over edition in India is the secondary target, but ultimately playing in any of these competitions would greatly raise the profile of the game in their respective countries.
The ODI opportunity is such that the side moves from playing 15 List A games over a three-year cycle to playing 36 ODI games in a year.
Red-hot Simon Ssesazi scored three half-centuries during the second round in Kampala and he has provided some stability at the top of the order however, he has not had a stable partner with Arnold Otwani, Emmanuel Hasahya, and Brian Masaba all tried at the top in Kampala.
Otwani, the only available option down in Jersey should be the chosen partner for Ssesazi during the final leg.
Ronak Patel is the second highest run scorer in the Challenge League B with 402 runs with an average of 44.6 and his consistency over the third leg will be very important for Uganda.
It is summertime in Jersey so there is very little chance of rain but the mornings provide something for the bowlers to work with, however, it is mostly very good weather for cricket.
The plan for the bowlers should be to keep it nice and straight if they are to get something out of the wicket.
Youngsters Juma Miyagi and Cosmas Kyewuta were decent in Kampala doing no harm to their young careers and with a senior such as Bilal Hassun around, they have access to the wisdom that will be required when it comes down to fine margins.
Henry Ssenyondo and veteran Frank Nsubuga are the slow bowling options available with Riazat Ali Shah and Vice Captain Kenneth Waiswa providing a different dimension in case it is required.
The action will be live on the icc.tv for the cricket cranes fans.
