The Baby Cricket Cranes must beat a bunch of permutations if they are to progress to next year’s ICC U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.

A third appearance at the global stage will be a reality if Henry Okecho’s boys follow up yesterday’s nine-wicket win over Papua New Guinea (PNG) with another big one when they face Ireland in an epic qualifier in Malaysia today.

“We will carry this momentum from the PNG win into tomorrow (today)’s game,” coach Henry Okecho told Daily Monitor on phone from the team base at Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur. However, victory in their final round-robin contest alone is not enough. 
Uganda must also pray that one of unbeaten sides Ireland and Nepal falters in their remaining fixtures. “Our job is to beat Ireland and see how everything else goes. We have some plans for Ireland but will look at the wicket in the morning and take a decision,” Okecho said about a possibility to change his playing side.

Yesterday’s win over PNG at the Kinrara Academy Oval improved Uganda’s Net Run Rate greatly.

Like men on a mission, a charged bowling unit led by man-of-match Frank Akankwasa (3/15) and Abdallah Lubega (2/14) bowled out the Asian side for 83 runs in 30.4 overs.

Then seven boundaries and three sixes in a quick-fire half-century of 59 runs off 37 balls from opener Zephaniah Arinaitwe plus a 20-run combo from Kenneth Waiswa (13) and John Gabula (8) sealed the emphatic win.

ICC U-19 GLOBAL WORLD CUP QUALIFIER 
TODAY’S FIXTURES - 4.30AM (UG. TIME)
Uganda vs. Ireland, Bayuemas Oval
Nepal vs. USA, Kinrara Oval
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS
PNG 83/10 Uganda 84/1
USA 100/10 Ireland 101/2

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.