Cricket Cranes’ World Cup Dream Ended by TZ

Tanzania 128/6
Uganda 119/9
Tanzania won by 9 runs

Uganda’s attempt to qualify for next year’s T20 World Cup failed miserably after their humiliating 9-run loss to Tanzania on Sunday in their second Group B game at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Following their expected loss to the hosts on the opening day, the Cricket Cranes who featured at the 2024 World Cup in West Indies- their maiden appearance- entered Sunday’s game well aware that only a win would keep their hopes of returning to the World Cup alive.

To that regard, it was a brilliant start to their innings, however, failed miserably in their chase.

Uganda’s bowling unit led by Alpesh Ramjani who picked two wickets and Dinesh Nakrani who picked one had done an excellent job limiting Tanzania to 128/6.

The decision to bowl first had looked like the best, with them letting their neighbors set what’s usually an easily chasable score for them.

Despite Ronald Lutaya’s fall in the third Over, the chase begun in stellar fashion; the power play ending with Uganda on 59/1. Problems for them came when opener, Raghav Dhawan got dismissed in the 11.2 Over.

With his 39 off 37, Dhawan left the crease with Uganda’s total reading 80/2, but even with all those wickets at hand, Abhay Sharma’s men were unable to complete the task.

They scored only 39 runs between 11.3 and 19.6 Gaurav Tomar who sat out the Zimbabwe game and who came at one down managed 18 off 20, Sumeet Verma (11 off ) while Nakrani scored 14 off 18.

Riazat Ali Shah- the captain of the side who’s usually explosive against Tanzania, and Ramjani managed just two runs each.

It was a horrible collapse for Uganda, but credit to Tanzania’s opener, Juma Khalidy who cleaned the tail. Nakrani, Riazat, Juma Miyaji and Joseph Baguma all fell at the hands of Khalidy, with the former trio all dismissed in the 17th Over.

Uganda have one more game left in their group- against Botswana, but the chances of returning to the World Cup have ended. They will now need to just avoid being relegated to Div 2.

With both Zimbabwe and Tanzania winning their opening two games, they will be the teams that will progress to the semifinals from Group B.

With their healthy net run rate, Tanzania currently lead the Group, but they’re likely to progress as group runner-ups as they’re expected to lose to Zimbabwe in their final group game. Nonetheless, Tanzania will be in the semis; the dream to qualify for their maiden World Cup continues.