The Cricket Cranes will return to ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B action tomorrow against Italy in pursuit of a second victory in as many games.
Uganda opened the decisive Dar es Salaam final leg in emphatic fashion on Saturday, defeating hosts Tanzania by 90 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
The victory moved Uganda to 20 points at the top of the Challenge League B standings. Italy moved to 18 after a victory over Bahrain, while Hong Kong moved to 14 after outlasting Singapore.
Tuesday’s encounter is a critical meeting between the top two sides on the log, and a win for Uganda would strengthen their grip on the qualification race, bringing them closer to their ODI cricket ambitions.
Uganda’s preparations continued today at the TCA Arena, with the team looking to build on the strengths displayed against Tanzania.
All-rounder Alpesh Ramjani said the priority is to continue developing as a unit while retaining the confidence gained from the opening victory.
“We just want to keep gelling well as a team and build on the strengths we showed against Tanzania,” Ramjani said.
“Every game gives us something to learn from, and the important thing is that we continue improving together and take that into the next game.”
The Estim Ground offered significant assistance to spin bowling against Tanzania, and the Cranes have spent part of their preparation working specifically on how to deal with spin.
Cricket Cranes Head Coach Steve Tikolo said the training sessions were shaped by what the conditions are demanding.
“We worked a lot on playing spin because that’s what the conditions have been asking from us,” Tikolo said.
“We want the players to understand how to play the ball in these conditions, make good decisions, and be ready for whatever Italy brings.”
The emphasis is not only on surviving spin but on scoring against it without losing wickets. Wicketkeeper Cyrus Kakuru noted that the mood inside the camp remains positive following the victory over Tanzania.
“The boys are in good spirits. We are united and there are good vibes in the team,” Kakuru said.
“Against Italy, we just have to stay ahead of them in every phase of the game with the bat, with the ball, and in the field.”
That approach reflects Uganda’s broader objective: control the game rather than simply react to the opposition.
Three wins from Uganda’s remaining four matches would guarantee progression, meaning Tuesday’s fixture could take them another significant step towards the next stage of the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup qualification pathway and their longer-term ambition of securing ODI status.
