Cricket Cranes Take On Vanuatu In Clash Of Invaluable Importance

ICC WCL DIV IV PREVIEW

Today’s fixtures - 4.30am

Uganda vs. Vanuatu, Royal Selangor Club

Bermuda vs. Jersey, Kinrara Academy Oval

Malaysia vs. Denmark, UKM-YSD Oval

Points Standings After Round Two

 Captain Roger Mukasa has told anyone who has cared to listen to him here at the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division IV that the Cricket Cranes are not in Malaysia to tour the country.

“We are not here as tourists,” Mukasa, an opening batsman, re-echoed his earlier words while talking to media ahead of tomorrow (May 2)’s Round Three fixtures.

“We are ambassadors of our country and are here on a mission to qualify for the Division III after we were relegated at our own backyard last year. We are going to work very hard to ensure that we win the whole thing by the end of the tournament.”

Mukasa’s bold speaking comes on the backdrop of Uganda’s first two matches at the tournament that have shown both sides of the coin to the Cricket Cranes’ game.

There was an opening day controversial nine-run loss to hosts Malaysia and a convincing 189-run win against 2007 World Cup finalists Bermuda on Monday.

Such a scenario leaves Uganda with virtually no room for error but to go for an outright  victory against Vanuatu in tomorrow (May 2)’s face off at the newly-laid Royal Selangor Club.

Vanuatu’s variety

They may still be winless but Vanuatu will be no easy fodder. The Pacific Island nation have a side buzzing with raw talented and guided by Shane Deitz, a former South Australian wicketkeeper-cum-batsman, in a coach-player role.

Aged 42, Deitz will be hoping his return from a 10-year international hiatus can at least help his team get off the mark, as a bare minimum, in the six-nation showpiece.

Vanuatu showed naivety as they got bowled out for 104 by Jersey on a dusty pitch at UKM-YSD Oval enroute to a seven-wicket loss in their opener.

They then grit their teeth against hosts Malaysia restricting them to 196 runs but still fell agonisingly short by 23 runs in a tense but exciting chase.

Ashes Test tonic

Inexperience at this level has been their undoing but Deitz’s expertise, having played alongside Ashes Test winners Jason Gillespie and Damien Fleming, will hope his talented crop that includes captain Andrew Mansale, Stephen Apollinaire, Nalin Nipiko, Chilia Jelany and Joshua Rasu, can learn from their mistakes over the last three days and finally click.

Thorough preparations

But Uganda, who are seeded No.1 for this tournament, will want to leave no stone turned.   

The team did just put their feet up during the Rest/Reserve Day.

They hit the Hotel Istana Gymansium and Swimming Pool for a two-hour session, did some media work after their lunch and later enjoyed a video session at the late evening team meeting in preparation for this ‘must win’ rubber.

Being clinical is a must for Uganda who that a good win will elevate them from third to second place on the log considering their superior Net Run Rate (NRR) since the table-toppers Denmark and Malaysia face off at the tricky UKM-YSD Oval.

 Eyeing promotion

A result from that match will see Uganda enter the top two slots - which guarantee promotion to Division III.

Bottom-placed Bermuda tussle it out with Jersey in the day’s last clash at Kinrara Academy Oval.

The day’s fixtures give a sneak peek that they could be the turning point of the tournament.