- Tanzania 128/6 in 20 Overs
- Uganda 119/9 in 20 Overs
- Tanzania won by 9 Runs
Uganda’s bid for a second straight ICC T20 World Cup ended on Sunday with a heavy nine-runs loss to neighbours Tanzania at Takashinga Cricket Ground.
The defeat, Uganda’s second after Friday’s five wicket setback to Zimbabwe, knocked the Cricket Cranes out of the regional qualifiers and turned a bright campaign bleak.
Fast Start, sudden collapse
Uganda began their second innings confidently. Ronald Lutaaya struck 17 off eight balls and Raghav Dhawan steadied the innings with 39 from 37.
But from 80 for two, the middle order crumbled. Khalidy Juma’s 4/13 led a relentless Tanzanian attack, with Ajith Augastin and Ally Kimote adding two wickets each.
Uganda limped to 119 for nine in 20 overs which wasn’t enough to what Tanzania had managed in the First innings.
Tanzania in fear
However Tanzania in the first innings looked troubled when they posted only 128/6 .
Captain Abhik Patwa’s quick 30 set the tone before Mukesh Maker’s unbeaten 45 sealed the innings. Only Alpesh Ramjani (2/15) offered real resistance for Uganda.
Stakes and questions
The loss leaves Uganda playing Botswana on Tuesday only for pride in the last group game then 5th and 6th and to avoid relegation to Division Two.
Coach Abhay Sharma faces tough questions after two lacklustre outings from a team once tipped as a qualifier dark horse.
Uganda’s World Cup dream is gone, and their place among Africa’s cricket elite is suddenly in doubt.
