Uganda’s men’s national cricket team, the Cricket Cranes, fell just one run short against hosts Nigeria in Abuja, finishing second in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C.
The painful defeat was Uganda’s first-ever loss to the hosts. Nigeria held on in a winner-takes-all showdown against the defending champions on Sunday, October 25, at NCF Oval 1.
Uganda, ranked 21st in the world, fell to the 40th-ranked Yellow Greens as the home side defended a target of 148 runs to finish the competition unbeaten with five wins in as many games.
Uganda settled for second place with eight points, two behind Nigeria, after winning four of their five games. Both sides had already secured qualification for next year’s Africa Regional Final.
In the first innings, Uganda’s bowlers recovered from an expensive start to restrict Nigeria to 148 all out in 19.4 overs, with off-spinner Joseph Baguma producing a superb spell of 4/21 in four overs.
Baguma struck twice in his opening over, removing Selim Salau for 30 and Isaac Okpe for six, before dismissing top scorer Isaac Danladi for 47 off 28 balls and Miracle Akhigbe for a duck.
Uganda’s chase began poorly, with Raghav Dhawan and Robinson Obuya dismissed early, putting the team under immediate pressure. Captain Riazat Ali Shah then scored 60 off 36 balls to keep the victory within reach.
Gerald Olipa contributed 18 off 22 deliveries in a supporting role as the pair rebuilt the innings before falling at 99/3. Riazat continued to attack, but Sylvester Okpe bowled him out with the score at 108.
Nigeria, determined to win at all costs, deployed time-wasting tactics to disrupt Uganda’s momentum, which ultimately paid off in front of their home crowd.
