Uganda Remains Undefeated In WCL Division 3
Following yesterday’s [May 2] play, Uganda remains undefeated in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League [WCL] Division 3 and has secured a position in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014, as well as Sunday’s final, after defeating USA by 82 runs at St David’s.
In a clash of the two leading teams of the tournament, Uganda elected to bat and set a slow and steady pace to reach 175. Left hander Arthur Kyobe scored 29, and a 79-run fourth wicket stand between Benjamin Musoke and Laurence Sematimba took the African side from 47 for 3 to 126 for 4.
However, quick reflexes in the field led to a series of run outs, with Uganda losing Deusdedit Muhumuza, captain Davis Arinaitwe, Charles Waiswa and Henry Senyondo as they scampered to add extra runs. When Senyondo was run out on the penultimate delivery, Uganda was all out for 175. Timroy Allen took two wickets for the USA.
In response, USA struggled to build any lasting partnerships, and skipper Steve Massiah top scored with 24. Opener Japen Patel contributed 20 runs, but after Massiah was dismissed lbw off the bowling of Mukasa, USA lost three wickets for two runs. A dogged last man stand by Elmore Hutchinson could not salvage the innings, and USA was all out for 93 in forty overs.
Mukasa was the pick of Uganda’s bowlers, taking three for 29, while Charles Waiswa, Arinaitwe and Senyond took two apiece. Wicket-keeper Sematimba’s knock of 44 earned him the man of the match award.
Uganda’s captain Davis Arinaitwe was elated to secure the win and the guaranteed qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014. “How can anyone not think about that, really? We’ve achieved the objective, coming into this tournament, of trying to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, so we are happy.”
The delighted skipper pointed to his team’s all-round capabilities as the reason for its success: “There are no big stars in our team, but because we have grown up together and played together for such a long time, one of our biggest strengths is that we work as a unit. I might be able to do the job today, but tomorrow someone else will, and the day after someone else will. We have so many players in the team who can win games and it has shown in this tournament. Different players at different stages have picked themselves up and done the job for us.”
USA captain Steve Massiah praised Uganda’s performance on a tough wicket: “I thought Uganda made at least 30 runs extra, judging the pace of the pitch. We knew it was going to get difficult batting second, and full credit to them, they played excellent cricket. I thought they put a total on the board that they could have defended, and their bowlers stuck to the task and bowled brilliantly. They totally out-bowled us today.”
The New Yorker remained confident ahead of this side’s final group match on Saturday, against regional neighbour Bermuda. “Absolutely I’m confident for the final match. We have to back up our convictions. At the end of the day, we still have to go out there and execute.
“We control our own destiny, we don’t have to be dependent on other results to get through. Once we win, we’re basically assured a place in the final, and we’ll be the second team to have four wins in the tournament.”
Uganda now moves above the USA to lead the competition, and is assured of a spot in Sunday’s final, as well as a position in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014.
In other matches, host Bermuda defeated Italy by 60 runs at Somerset CC to record its second victory of the tournament.
A blistering century from veteran Lionel Cann set up the victory, with the 40-year old all-rounder scoring 113 from only 48 balls. Striking six fours and 11 sixes, Cann almost overshadowed the remainder of the improved Bermuda batting lineup, as Tre Manders (64), David Hemp (36) and Malachi Jones (19) all contributed. Gayashan Munasinghe and Dilan Arsakulasuriya combined to remove the last three wickets in the last nine balls, with Rodney Trott caught off the last ball.
Italy commenced the run chase quickly, and, like yesterday’s match against Uganda, the European side looked like it could overhaul the target set. A 70 run partnership between all-rounder Damian Crowley and Peter Petricola set up the Italy innings, and a quickfire 66 from 34 balls by Carl Sandri brought the target even closer. As the pressure mounted, however, Italy suffered two quick run outs, and Italy was dismissed for 224 in 44 overs. All-rounder Malachi Jones took three wickets for Bermuda, but it was Lionel Cann who was adjudged man of the match.
Bermuda captain Stephen Outerbridge was pleased with his team’s improving fortunes, which he attributes to attitude. “Very happy, I think it was just a shift of attitude again today. It’s something we are trying to get right at the moment. Lionel and Trey Manders batted exceptionally well today, I think Lionel scored 100 off 40 something balls, so they basically set the platform for us to build our score.”
“What I am trying to instill is a team belief. For some reason or other, some teams I the past have just been individuals. So we’re just trying bring the guys together and to know that they are playing for one another, and that they can get results in international cricket. It’s not about if you can outscore your teammates, but outscoring the opponents you’re playing against.”
Outerbridge is confident ahead of his team’s final group match against regional rival USA, the team it lost to in the final of the recent ICC Americas Division 1 Championship. “The last match is going to be a crucial match against the USA, I’m pretty sure everyone is up for a really good game against the USA after our rivalry in the Americas, and then I think it boils down to run rate if we can definitely get a victory. That’s what I am going to ask them.”
Italy captain Alessandro Bonora was disappointed with the result, though happy to see improvement in his team’s performance. “Again, we haven’t done well enough. It was a bit better today, we put up a good fight, but things didn’t really work for us. We’ll just have to take it on the chin and keep our heads up. In this tournament, I guess the best we can hope for us fifth. We’ve got another tournament in July, the regional T20 qualifier, so we’ll have more time together as a unit, so we have to focus on that.”
“We should have been chasing 220. Credit to Cann and Manders, they scored quickly – Cann scored 100 off 40-odd balls, and you don’t see that every day. On that small ground on a fairly good wicket, we were looking at 220, 230, which would have been completely achievable. We lost wickets regularly, though it definitely was better batting. The batting probably would have cost us a bit, and the fielding generally, which is a symptom of being a bit low in confidence. I think we just need that little magic wind to turn things around.”
With one group match left to play, the skipper says his side will prepare strongly. “We have tournaments coming up and we don’t come together too often as a group, so we need to take as much as we can out of the last match. It’s pointless arriving and just having a bash. Probably what will happen is, without there being pressure on us, there will be a natural freedom, and we’ll see some guys express themselves a bit more. Don’t be surprised if you see us get a good score.”
Bermuda now moves to fourth on the ladder, two points behind USA.
Nepal surmounted the Oman bowling attack to achieve its second victory of the tournament, defeating Oman by 28 runs at the National Sports Stadium.
Sent into bat, Nepal overcame the loss of two early wickets to post 160 from its 50 overs. Gyanendra Malla (34), captain Paras Khadka (28), S Vesawkar (27) and B Bhandari (35) brought the score to 146 for seven, but the Oman bowling attack smothered the tail end, who only managed to add eight runs for the last three wickets.
Munis Ansari was the pick of the Oman bowlers, taking three for 27, while Lalcheta picked up two.
Oman captain Vaibhav Wategaonkar (27) again lead the run chase, while Ajay Lalchata (24) and Sultan Ahmed (19) contributed patient knocks. However, the skipper’s return to the pavilion sparked a batting collapse, with the loss of four wickets in four overs leaving Oman balanced precariously at 118 for eight. Thirty-nine year old Hemal Metha added 10 runs before Oman was dismissed for 132 runs. Basant Regmi and Sanjam Regmi took two wickets apiece, while teammate Malla was adjudged man of the match.
Nepal’s skipper was pleased with his team’s performance on a tough wicket. “We were 20 – 25 runs short, looking at the wicket, but the wicket was not that easy. With our bowling attack though, we thought 160 was defendable.”
Khadka remains positive for Nepal’s final group match, which will be against Italy. “We still have one more game to go, and if results fall in our favour, we still have a slight chance of making it to the next round. So fingers crossed that everything goes well, and we should be doing ok.”
Oman captain Vaibhav Wategaonkar felt his team let chances slip through its fingers. “It was an achievable target, but again the same thing has happened – we didn’t bat well. The batsmen were struggling, to get the runs.”
With one group match remaining, Wategaonkar is determined that his side will perform well. “We’ll have some plans for our final match against Uganda, which we’ll go through tomorrow with the coach and all the players. We have to win that match at any cost.”
Nepal now moves to third on the ladder, while Oman drops to fifth.
Yesterday’s scores in brief are below
At National Sports Stadium
- Nepal 160 for 9, 50 overs (Malla 34, Bhandari 32, Khadka 28; Ansari 3-26)
- Oman 132 all out, 46.4 overs (Wategaonkar 27, Lalcheta 24; B Regmi 2-18, S Regmi 2-25)
- Nepal won by 28 runs
- Player of the Match: Gyanendra Malla (Nepal)
At St. David’s
- Uganda 175 all out, 49.5 overs (Musoke 44, Sematimba 44; Allen 2-37)
- USA 93 all out, 39.1 overs (Massiah 24, Patel 20; Mukasa 3-29)
- Uganda won by 82 runs
- Player of the Match: Laurence Sematimba (Uganda)
At Somerset CC
- Bermuda 284, 50 overs (Cann 113, Manders 64, Hemp 36; Arsakulasuriya 3-42, Munasinghe 3-66)
- Italy 224 all out, 44 overs (Petricola 66, Sandri 66, Crowley 29; Jones 3-51)
- Bermuda won by 60 runs
- Player of the Match: Lionel Cann (Bermuda)
Friday is a rest/reserve day. Saturday’s fixtures:
- At National Sports Stadium: Bermuda v USA
- At St. David’s: Nepal v Italy
- At Somerset CC: Uganda v Oman
- All matches are scheduled to start at 10.30am
View all our coverage of the tournament here.
