Uganda come top, bounce back to cricket division 3

Kuala, Lumpar, | THE INDEPENDENT  | On another exciting final day’s play at an ICC World Cricket League tournament, this time Division 4 in Malaysia, both Uganda and Denmark secured qualification to Division 3.

With Saturday’s matches being replayed Sunday, all positions were up for grabs. At UKM Cricket Oval Uganda beat Jersey by seven runs to win Division 4 and secure a Division 3 spot. Whilst Denmark who weren’t playing, could only watch on, as they narrowly secured the second position by net-run-rate from Malaysia in third position who now remain in Division 4, alongside Jersey.

Vanuatu and Bermuda are both relegated to Division 5, after finishing in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Uganda bounces back to Division 3 from which they were relegated last year, in the tournament held in Kampala. As recently as 2015, Uganda was a regular in Division 2, having reached a high by playing World Cup qualifiers in 2009. A poor tournament run from 2015 so them relegated to Division 3 then Division 4.

Uganda v Jersey

There was a low scoring match at the UKM Cricket Oval between Uganda and Jersey, where a number of different permutations meant either teams, or Malaysia or Denmark could still qualify for Division 3 at the start of the day’s play. Jersey’s Ben Stevens would have felt he had to put his team in with an excellent chance after taking four wickets for 22 runs, but Uganda had other ideas.

Uganda’s Charles Waiswa (34), Riazat Ali Shah (22) and Frank Nsubuga (13) were the only ones to get into double figures for the Ugandan batting line up, as they totaled 90 runs after being bowled out in 37 overs. Elliot Miles (2/9), Harrison Carlyon (2/18) and Charles Perchard (2/12) all took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Jersey lost early wickets as Uganda put the pressure on the European team, with Player of the Tournament Ben Stevens bowled out by Frank Nsubuga (3/7) for 12 runs. With 11 runs needed for victory, Jersey were 80/6, but three wickets for Roger Mukasa swung victory to the African team. Anthony Hawkins – Kay who top scored with 24 runs was bowled by Mukasa, and the last three wickets fell for three runs as Cornelis Bodenstein (0), Charles Perchard (0) and Elliot Miles (0) all failed to score. Winning by seven runs, Uganda celebrated promotion to Division 3.

Malaysia v Bermuda

Malaysia who were also still in with a chance of qualification to Division 3, batting first did their chances no harm by scoring 257 runs for eight in their 50 overs. Anwar Arudin put in another captain’s innings in this tournament scoring 60 runs from 49 balls including three fours and four sixes. Syed Aziz (52) and Ahmed Faiz (50) also scored half-centuries for the hosts. Bermuda’s Chare Smith (3/42) and Janerio Tucker (3/34) took three wickets apiece.

Malaysia knew they had to improve their net-run-rate to be in with a chance of taking one of the top two spots, and started off in the best possible way, taking early wickets as Bermuda were on 37 runs for six wickets after 15.4 overs. Muhammad Wafiq’s figures of three for 35, supported by Pavandeep Singh (2/17) and Muhamad Syahadat (2/41) put the Asian team in a great position. However, a partnership between Kamau Leverock (61, 111b, 2×4, 5×6) and Janerio Tucker (55, 81b, 3×4, 3×6), allowed Bermuda to reach a total of 168 runs for nine wickets in 50 overs, therefore sending Denmark to ICC World Cricket League Division 3 on net-run-rate.

Uganda beat Jersey by 7 runs at UKM Cricket Oval

Uganda 90 all out, 37 overs (Charles Waiswa 34, Riazat Ali Shah 22; Ben Stevens 4/22)

Jersey 83 all out, 35 overs (Anthony Hawkins-Kay 24, Harrison Carlyon 22 not out; Frank Nsubuga 4/20)

Malaysia beat Bermuda by 89 runs at Kinrara Cricket Oval

Malaysia 257-8, 50 overs (Anwar Arudin 60, Syed Aziz 52; Janerio Tucker 3/34)

Bermuda 168-9, 50 overs (Kamua Leverock 61, Janerio Tucker 55; Muhammad Wafiq 3/35)

ICC World Cricket League Division 4 final standings 

Player of the Tournament

Ben Stevens – Jersey

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Source: ICC cricket com