ICC WCL DIV IV PREVIEW
Today’s fixtures - 4.30am
Denmark vs. Uganda, Kinrara Academy Oval
Malaysia vs. Jersey, Royal Selangor Club
Bermuda vs. Vanuatu, UKM-YSD Oval
Yesterday’s results
Uganda 222/8 Vanuatu 141/10
Uganda won by 81 runs
Bermuda 242/10 Jersey 184/10
Bermuda won by 58 runs
Denmark 179/10 Malaysia 146/10
Denmark won by 33 runs
Points Standings After Round III
P W T NR L Pts NRR
Denmark 3 3 0 0 0 6 0.64
Uganda 3 2 0 0 1 4 1.74
Malaysia 3 2 0 0 1 4 -0.01
Jersey 3 1 0 0 2 2 0.08
Bermuda 3 1 0 0 2 2 -1.14
Vanuatu 3 0 0 0 3 0 -1.20
Rizwan Cheema! Anyone remembers that name. Yes it was during last year’s International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division III tournament that hard-hitting Canadian all-round broke Ugandan hearts in Lugogo.
Don’t read any further if you think this report is about Cheema.
Uganda does have its own version of Cheema in Irfan Afridi. A mystery spinner and monster basher of the ball, Afridi was a one-man army as he tried to inspire Uganda to Division II promotion last year.
He won over tens of fans with two Man Of Match (MoM) awards against Malaysia and Singapore courtesy of a 71-ball 108 century and a five-wicket haul respectively.
Breaking and winning hearts
Here in Malaysia, the man nicknamed Lala may have won hearts back home with such displays thus but he has broken quite many here, too!
Like in Kampala, Afridi has two man of match awards to his name thus and both have been as deserving.
A sixer for 23 against Bermuda on a newly-laid dusty pitch in the 189-run win at UKM-YSD Oval was followed by another in the 81-run triumph against banana skins Vanuatu.
Against Vanuatu, Afridi shot a blistering half ton and then snared a three-wicket haul with his bamboozling off-spin. He reached 50 off just 14 balls - which must be a record of sorts in ICC Associate Nations Cricket - before he fell for 17-ball 51.
Only Chris Gayle and Yuvraj Singh have reportedly notched 50s at a quicker pace - off just 12 in the Big Bash League (2016) and World Twenty20 (2007) respectively.
Willing trendsetters
What made Afridi’s assault more special is that he came into the middle with Uganda tottering on 92 for 4 in 37 overs. He then smacked seven sixes as Uganda scored at 10 per over in the last 11 overs to set 228 for 8 in 50 overs.
Hamu Kayondo with an invaluable 105-ball 44, Deus Muhumuza (23), Brian Masaba (28) and Riazat Ali Shah (38), too, made it count for Uganda with purposeful knocks.
Nsubuga (2/17 in 10) and Riazat (3/16 in 6), too, chipped in with the ball as Uganda thrived to bowl out Vanuatu for 141 in 47 overs.
In the next match on May 3, the Ugandans will walk onto the turf looking to seize the initiative and secure possible promotion to Division III by upstaging table toppers Denmark.
Hosts Malaysia, who controversially beat Uganda by nine runs on the opening day, suffered a 33-run loss to Denmark in the battle of the unbeaten yesterday (May 2), and will want to get off the blocks quickly against Jersey today.
Still in the mix
But Jersey, who lost their second game of the campaign to Bermuda yesterday, will be intent on making a statement as they look to stay in the frame for promotion to the third tier.
2007 World Cup finalists Bermuda will be eyeing their second scalp against winless Vanuatu.
Expect a pressure-filled day in Round IV after Round III’s action saw upwards and downwards movements on the log.
