Cricket Cranes In Qatar
Saturday, March 18
2nd ODI Match:
*Uganda 236/8 50 overs
-Cyrus Kakuru 60 not out
-Kenneth Waiswa 39
-Brian Masaba 39
*Qatar 98 all out 31.5/50 overs
-Kamran Khan 26
-Zaharudeen Ibrahim 25
**Uganda won by 138 runs
Kenneth Waiswa delivered a man of the match performance as the Cricket Cranes beat Qatar by 138 runs in the four 50-Over bilateral series at the Doha University of Science and Technology ground.
Uganda lost the first game by 10 runs on Thursday, but they were in no forgiving mood as they humiliated the hosts to level the series.
It was a collective effort from the entire team, but it was Waiswa who ran away with the Player of the Match award. The 24-year-old scored 39 runs off 59 balls, before his ruthless display with the ball that saw him pick three wickets.
Veteran spinner Frank Nsubuga who did not feature in the first game recorded 100% strike rate with his 22 off 22, but it was wicketkeeper Cyrus Kakuru with 60 who scored the most runs for the team.
Cricket Cranes skipper Brian Masaba (39), Riazat Ali Shah (25) and opening batter Simon Ssesazi (25) were the other players that scored in double figures as Uganda who lost eight wickets set the chase at 236.
It seemed a chasable score for the hosts who put on board 250 runs in the opening game, but Laurance Mahatlane’s boys were unwilling to let that happen as all of the six bowlers, bar Nsubuga picked at least a wicket.
Waiswa did not only dismiss, he also conceded the least runs – eight. Both Riazat and Henry Senyondo each sent two packing while Roger Mukasa and Cosmos Kyewuta who was playing his first game since December plucked one apiece as Qatar were bowled out inside the 32nd over.
Masaba loved what he saw. And after the game, the captain said;
“I thought today we played much better than we did the other day. The intensity was better. We didn’t start very well with the bat, but our late order came to the party.
“When we came out to field, the intensity was good. We have come out here to compete, so we are hoping to get the processes right.”
The four-game series continues tomorrow at the same ground.
