Uganda’s U-19 Boys Cricket team, the Baby Cricket Cranes, fell to a 27-run loss in their opening Easter Youth 50 Over Series game against Kenya on Tuesday.
The side coached by Emmanuel Isaneez – who was part of the 2006 U19 team that featured at the World Cup in Sri Lanka, did well to restrict Kenya to 147 all out, but were unable to overpower their neighbors.
Their chase started terribly, with the openers Hassan Bagaga and Gerald Olipa managing just one run between them, and they were eventually bowled out in the 33.3 Over with just 120 on board.
Debutant Gurjivan Singh picked five wickets, but despite winning the match ball, his struggle counted less.
“The top order didn’t show up today,” Isaneez said after the game. The batting department has to come to the party for Uganda to start winning games.
“We’ve seen series of loopholes which we shall gap up. Since it’s a double round robin tournament, we believe we will come back strong against Kenya and in the other remaining games.”
Uganda will play Rwanda next on Wednesday at Jinja SS Cricket Oval where the Series is being hosted. They will then take a rest on Thursday and return with a game against Kenya on Good Friday.
The Baby Cricket Cranes are using this tournament to prepare for the World Cup Qualifiers. Uganda finished third in the last qualifiers that were held in Dar es Salaam, missing out on an instant return to the World Cup.
Courtesy Photos
