By Innocent Ndawula
ICC WCL DIVISION III IN MUSCAT, OMAN
MONDAY - NOVEMBER 12 RESULTS
Game Five
USA 254 all out in 50 overs
Kenya 96 all out in 26 overs
USA won by 158 runs (with 144 balls to spare)
Man of Match: Ali Khan of USA (3 for 36 in 8 overs)
Game Six
Singapore 254 all out in 49.3 overs
Denmark 164 all out in 35.4 overs
Singapore won by 94 runs (with 86 balls to spare)
Man of Match: Aritra Dutta of Singapore (87 off 80)
Table Standings After Day 4
Team P W L Pts NRR
USA 2 2 0 4 2.120
Oman 2 2 0 4 0.883
Singapore 2 1 1 2 0.443
Uganda 2 1 1 2 0.058
Denmark 2 0 2 0 -1.626
Kenya 2 0 2 0 -1.924
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13 FIXTURES
Oman vs. Denmark, OCA Turf 1
Uganda vs. Kenya, OCA Turf 2
*All matches start at 8.30am Ugandan time.
As temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius yesterday for the first time since the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division II bowled off last Friday, it was a perfect signal that tournament was starting to take shape.
The heat has been increasing by the day - from 27 when Uganda arrived in the Gulf. The weather forecast also states that it is going to be increasingly hotter, and even tougher for teams to cope as the global showpiece enters the business end.
For Uganda and Kenya, who face off at the Oman Cricket Academy Turf 2 in Al Amarat today, it will be a defining moment as both chase one of the two spots at stake to progress to Division II that is scheduled for April 18-28 in Windhoek, Namibia. Currently unbeaten United States of America (USA) and Oman boss the table standings with four points apiece - the former atop courtesy of a healthier Net Run Rate (NRR).
Spot of bother
The East African Derby finds both rivaling foes with a lot on their plates and literally in a spot of bother.
Uganda have won one and lost one. They convincingly outsmarted Denmark by five wickets in the opener but lost to the United States of America by 52 runs in a game that was ‘ruined’ by ICC Match Officials for their poor interpretation of the playing conditions than can partly be blamed for the loss and as the reason Uganda’s was denied their best bowling weapon - the leg-spinning Irfan Afridi to bowl his full quota of overs (10). That Afridi-gate scandal left a bad feeling in Uganda’s camp as it got them distracted.
And although Uganda are still in a state of shock of how events surrounding Afridi’s bowling action and procedure have transpired, things are even worse for Kenya. The rivaling neighbours are in a ditch and need to find quick respite. Yesterday, Kenya lost their second successive match to remain winless in as many outings. Having arrived late in the Arabian Peninsular, they lost to hosts Oman by five wickets and then USA annihilated them by 158 runs in a shock result yesterday.
Their batting has not come together as a unit and their top order batsmen particularly have folded meekly early on in the innings with the ‘unfamiliar’ Duke ball swinging, albeit too much. They were 8 for 3 in 10 overs against Oman and 21 for 5 after 8.5 overs in the USA rubber.
Fighting for results
“We have to continue fighting for positive results,” said Kenya opening batsman Alex Obanda. “It is unfortunate we haven’t done well so far but we all know it takes one good result. Both sets of players know each other too well and for us this is going to be our final.”
For Uganda, coach Steve Tikolo will be looking to keep the Cricket Cranes machine well-oiled and some changes should be expected in the starting XI in what is anticipated to be a high-octane thrilling encounter.
“Lala (Irfan Afridi) will play. But some of the guys that haven’t yet played will get their chance to make a quick impact on the tournament as we chase our goal of Division II promotion,” said Tikolo.
“We have reminded everyone of their roles and urged them to stand up, fight for the team and deliver it to the Promised Land (Division II).
One or two of vice captain Brian Masaba, all-rounder Kenneth Waiswa and veteran ace Frank Nsubuga could get their tourney debuts and Tikolo will demand quick starts from them against a side that he played for in five ICC World Cups.
Only two places, for the top two finishers, are at stake from this six-team global event to progress to the Division II in a series of leagues constituted as the qualification pathway to the 2023 World Cup in India.
The Cricket World Cup (CWC) League 2 line-up will be completed by the top four teams from Division 2, who will join Scotland, Nepal and United Arab Emirates. The bottom four teams from the Oman event will play in the ICC Cricket World Challenge League.
