Cricket Cranes conquer inaugural Africa Cup

Tanzania
174/5 (20 overs)
Uganda
175/2 (19.4 overs)
Uganda won by 8 wickets

Gauteng, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s national cricket team brushed aside Tanzania by eight wickets to win the 1^st edition of the Africa Cup in Willowmoore Park in Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa on Thursday.

In the final, Tanzania managed 174/5 (20 overs) after the Cricket Cranes won the toss elected to field.
Deusdedit Muhumuza was outstanding, taking two wickets for 14 (2 overs).

In reply, Uganda raced to 175/2 (19.4 overs) to snatch the title, with Riazat Ali Shah hammering an unbeaten 98 off 53 balls.

The Africa Cup was initially scheduled to be in Nairobi in 2020 but the global pandemic put a halt on the tournament.

The Africa Cup was played in the T20 format and all the matches will have T20I status therefore Uganda took with both hands the opportunity to pick some valuable ranking points.

Congratulations Cricket Cranes for an amazing performance and victory at the finals of Africa Cricket Association Cup at Benoni, Sep 22 2022. pic.twitter.com/0JDNOZfGqY

— Marcella Karekye (@MKarekye) September 22, 2022

The tournament in South Africa eight nations put into two groups. Uganda was alongside Botswana, Ghana, and Mozambique in Group A. The top two sides in each group moved into the semi-finals before the final. Group B has Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Cameron.

The team had four players making their senior debut, Pascal Murungi, his assistant Munir Ismail and Joseph Baguma who was part of the U-19 team that took part in the World Cup in West Indies have been added to the side. Alpesh Ramjani who has been knocking on the national team has also been slotted into the side.

Brian Masaba returned  from a broken finger suffered during the T20 World Cup Qualifiers which also kept him out of the Jersey trip, Deus Muhumuza will be his assistant.

The Team:

1. Brian Masaba (Captain), 2. Deus Muhumuza, 3. Frank Nsubuga, 4. Kenneth Waiswa, 5. Cosmas Kyewuta, 6. Juma Miyagi, 7. Alpesh Ramjani, 8. Joseph Baguma, 9. Pascal Murungi, 10. Munir Ismail, 11. Fred Achellam, 12. Henry Ssenyondo 13. Riazat Ali Shah, 14. Simon Sessazi

Team Officials:

1. Laurence Mahatlane – Head Coach, 2. Jackson Ogwang – Assistant Coach, 3. Shamim Nassali – Physiotherapist, 4. Steven Tusiime – Analyst 5. Jackson Kavuma – Team Manager.