Friday: #ICCWCL3UG Uganda vs Oman (Kyambogo oval)
Wednesday result: Uganda beats Singapore by 66 runs
Uganda 217/9 in 50 overs (Otwani 47, Ukani 46, Kayondo 41, Muhumuza 25*; Vijayakumar 2 for 39 in 10 )
Singapore – 151 ALL OUT in 44 overs (Kumarange 40, Mutreja 35; Mohammed Irfan 5 for 38 in 10, Frank Nsubuga 1 for 12 in 8 overs)
A man of the match performance with the ball by Uganda’s leading all-rounder Mohammed Irfan earned the hosts a crucial win that put their World Cricket League Division 3 title ambitions back on track.
For many moments in the Day 2 game on Wednesday at the Lake side oval in Entebbe, Singapore looked like they would deny Uganda, who were desperate after their opening day 66 run defeat by Canada. Singapore confidently batted to 132 for four after 35.5 overs, before the Ugandans unsettled them.
Irfan’s five wickets for 38 were complimented by miserly bowling by offspinning allrounder Frank Nsubuga (1 for 12 in 8 overs) as Uganda smothered the Singapore fight to snatch a 66 run win.
Uganda next take on Oman, Friday, in another match they cannot afford anything but a positive result to keep their dream of playing the final and qualifying to the WCL Division 2.
Uganda, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada and U.S.A are in Uganda battling to join Hong Kong, Namibia, Nepal, Kenya or Netherlands in Division 2.
Man of the match — Mohammed Irfan. pic.twitter.com/grJ6HOtzOt
— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) May 24, 2017
ESPN best described what is at stake. “This time around, the competition feature six teams – Canada, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore Uganda and USA – who have been in the wilderness, hoping to return like prodigal sons back to Division One, where they once belonged.”
“On the previous two occasions that Uganda were relegated from Division Two, they bounced straight back with promotion from Division Three, at Bermuda in 2013 and Malaysia in 2014. After suffering relegation two years ago in Namibia, they are hoping to go right back up again.”
Tuesday video: How Rizwan Cheema destroyed Uganda
A must watch knock! A stunning 91 off 44 from Canada’s Rizwan Cheema, batting at number 7! #WCL3 #UgavCan https://t.co/UsFTYgx8i9 pic.twitter.com/cKNy1RCmV6
— ICC (@ICC) May 23, 2017
WCL Div 3 Table standings as at May 25, 2017
Team | Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | NRR | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.620 | Meet in the final and promoted to Division Two for 2018 |
United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.883 | |
Uganda | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.000 | Meet in the 3rd playoff and remain in Division Three |
Singapore | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | –0.200 | |
Oman | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | –0.732 | Meet in the 5th playoff and relegated to Division Four for 2018 |
Malaysia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –1.546 |
**By Louis Jadwong and additional reporting ESPN, Wikipedia