By Innocent Ndawula
ICC U-19 AFRICA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Wednesday, March 20 fixtures – 10.30am
Kenya vs. Tanzania, Wanderers Cricket Ground
Nigeria vs. Uganda, Windhoek Affies Park
Namibia vs. Sierra Leone, Trustco United Ground
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND II
M W L T N/R Pts NRR
Uganda 2 2 0 0 0 4 1.420
Nigeria 2 2 0 0 0 4 1.090
Namibia 2 1 1 0 0 2 1.990
Sierra Leone 2 1 1 0 0 2 -0.450
Kenya 2 0 2 0 0 0 -1.280
Tanzania 2 0 2 0 0 0 -2.770
*NRR denotes Net Run Rate, NR for No Result, T for Tie
Uganda will face it sternest test of their campaign thus far on Match Day III of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Africa Division One Qualifier against giant slayers Nigeria at the Windhoek Affies Park.
Given no chance in the build-up to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 World Cup Africa Division One Qualifier, Nigeria find themselves in dreamland.
They have caused ripples in this tournament to earn real praise from everyone after the two opening days. They stunned pre-tournament favourites and hosts Namibia; bowling them out for 77 runs after setting a paltry 129. The West Africans then restricted Kenya to just 143 runs after setting a patient 201.
No flash in the pan
Nigeria’s wins haven’t been a flash in the pan. They have been calculative; ever-patiently batting to a script and bowling impeccable lines consistently.
And now they will be pumped up to claim another major scalp against Uganda, who are unbeaten like them.
But the Baby Cricket Cranes will be hoping to flip a new page in their campaign as they look to maintain the winning run and stay in contention for the lone spot at stake to the ICC U-19 World Cup in South Africa next year.
Uganda have two wins in the bag; after out-muscling Kenya by 70 runs and rallying to breeze past hard-battling Sierra Leone by 75 runs. But things haven’t really clicked for the East Africans.
History favours Uganda
The top order batsmen have struggled to get starts and the opening bowlers (51 extras in two games) - primarily the pace-men - have neither found any rhythm whatsoever and neither any early breakthroughs as they have been guilty of bowling too many extras.
But history does favours Uganda who have never lost to ‘Ogas’ at this level. Captain Frank Akankwasa and Co. secured a 4-1 series sweep against the Nigerians in Kampala last year as the latter prepared for the ICC U-19 Africa Division II World Cup Qualifiers in Benoni, South Africa.
Those preparations in Kampala helped Nigeria win the Division II Qualifier - thus earning them the right to be here. And in preparation for this event, Nigeria camped in Harare, Zimbabwe for two weeks and despite losing that particular series 5-0, they gained priceless ‘game time’ and exposure against decent sides.
Daring to dream
That exposure has put them in a good place and made a case for their results here thus far. And with captain Sylvester Okpe, Olayinke Olaleye, Sulaimon Runsewe and Emmanuel Boniface already in good nick and firing, Nigeria can dare to dream.
But Uganda will be confident of their abilities and coaches Jackson Ogwang and Lawrence Ssematimba will be hoping their boys can play their first ‘perfect game’. The two youthful tacticians dedicated yesterday’s training session to ‘back to the basics’.
“We must follow the basics if we are to win comfortably,” said Ogwang after the session at the Trustco United Ground.
“You have seen that we have focused on the top order batters to play patiently and not chase balls away from their stumps. We have also primarily got the bowlers to pitch up early on so that the ball can swing. Basics is the way to go.”
Such is the game, there will be no room for error whatsoever either side does when they win the all-important pre-match toss.
Elsewhere, Namibia take on tricky Sierra Leone at Windhoek Cricket Club Oval with both teams looking to pick up their second victories of the campaign whereas coach Jimmy Kamande’s Kenya must shed some skin and get off the mark against Tanzania in the clash of two winless nations - thus far.