Uganda Cricket Cranes bounced back from back-to-back losses with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Singapore in their ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B encounter at the Estim Ground TCA Arena, University of Dar es Salaam.
Chasing 175 in a match reduced to 40 overs after a 90-minute rain interruption, Uganda reached 176/2 in 32.5 overs, winning with 43 balls to spare.
The victory lifts Uganda to 22 points, level with Italy at the top of the six-team standings, although Italy retains first position on a superior Net Run Rate (2.328).
Hong Kong-China remains third on 20 points, meaning the race for the two qualification places remains alive heading into the final fixtures.
Uganda’s chase was built around patience at the top and controlled aggression thereafter. Raghav Dhawan and Simon Ssesazi put together 107 runs for the opening wicket, the tournament’s biggest partnership in the final leg laying the foundation for a comfortable chase.
The pair negotiated the early stages carefully before Ssesazi was bowled by Chandramouli Sridev for 37 off 59 balls in the 22nd over.
That brought young Gerald Olipa to the crease, and the right-hander immediately changed the tempo. He struck 40 off just 30 balls, including five fours and a six, as he and Dhawan added 50 for the second wicket.
His eight-over stay at the crease provided the decisive acceleration before he was bowled at 157/2 in 29.3 overs by a delivery from Sridev that kept low.
At that point, Uganda needed only 20 runs from 63 balls. Vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa joined Dhawan, and the pair calmly completed the job, with Dhawan carrying his bat through the innings.
“We badly needed this victory. After the last two games, the important thing was to settle ourselves and build a proper partnership. The wicket wasn’t the easiest, so we knew we had to give ourselves time before playing our shots,” noted Player of the Match Raghav Dhawan, who finished with an unbeaten 77.
Dhawan praised Ssesazi for helping establish the platform before turning his attention to Olipa’s aggressive contribution.
“Ssesazi and I knew that if we could bat deep, we would put ourselves in a very good position. Olipa then came in and played a fantastic innings. He was positive from the start and took the pressure away from me,” added Dhawan.
With the ball in the morning, fast bowler Juma Miyagi ripped through Singapore’s top order with an outstanding 4/22 from eight overs, including two maidens.
He was backed by medium-pacer Waiswa, who claimed 3/28, while off-spinner Joseph Baguma returned 3/37 as Singapore was bowled out for 175 in exactly 40 overs.
Singapore had stumbled to 22/3, but skipper Manpreet Singh’s 50 and Raheel Thakkar’s 33 helped them recover. They reached 85/4 after 20 overs and 125/5 after 30, before Uganda regained control and dismissed them for 175.
Cricket Cranes Assistant Coach Jackson Ogwang credited the players for responding to the pressure surrounding the team.
“We had our KPIs going into the game and we ticked them off. The hundred-run opening partnership was very important, and then the 50-run second-wicket partnership gave us the control we needed.”
Ogwang conceded that Uganda had been under pressure following consecutive defeats, but said the players’ quality began to emerge once they settled into the contest.
“We were under pressure, there’s no doubt about that. But once the players settled into the game, the quality started to come out. We just needed to stay in the contest, keep doing the simple things well, and allow the players to express themselves.”
The victory is significant beyond the result. Uganda now sits on 22 points, level with Italy, while Hong Kong-China is on 20 in third position.
Italy has two matches remaining; against Hong Kong-China on August 17 and Tanzania on August 18, while Uganda has one fixture left against Bahrain on August 18.
The top two teams from Challenge League B advance to the next stage of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualification pathway.
For now, Uganda has given itself breathing space after a difficult spell. With qualification within reach, Uganda will know exactly what another victory could mean.
