False start for Cricket Cranes at T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe

ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers | Uganda vs. Zimbabwe

• Uganda 152/9
• Zimbabwe 157/5
• Zimbabwe by 5 wickets

Uganda’s Cricket Cranes lost their opening match at the T20 World Cup Qualifiers against Zimbabwe by five wickets in a show of might by the hosts.

Uganda started strongly in powerplay with Raghav Dhawan (28) and Sumeet Verma (43) batting bravely against a strong Zimbabwe bowling attack.

The Cricket Cranes raced to 93/3 inside 11 overs despite losing Robinson Obuya, Cyrus Kakuru very early in the innings.

Zimbabwe remained calm and once they got rid of Sumeet Verma after the introduction of Sikander Raza in the attack, the gas was taken out of the batting.

Riazat Ali Shah (35) scratched around for support but his usual support Alpesh Ramjani (14) and Dinesh Nakrani claimed to find range.

Uganda could only manage 58 runs in the last nine overs, a missed opportunity to put on an imposing total as the team stopped at 152/9 in 20 overs.

In the run chase, Juma Miyagi started with a no-ball and that was a sign of things to come. Brian Bennet was grateful and plundered the Ugandan bowlers all over Harare Sports Club in a batting masterclass inside the powerplay.

Zimbabwe had cut the deficit to under 100 runs by the sixth over and from thereon, they just raced to the win inside 18 overs.

Bennet scored a well-constructed 77 runs off 44 balls with the support coming from Brendan Taylor (39) to notch a great victory for Zimbabwe.

Uganda can take some pride, especially with their batting inside the power play but against good teams, good isn’t enough for a while; you have to be at your best for the whole game.

Uganda will now have to turn their focus to Tanzania on Sunday and they look to stay in the hunt for a top 2 finish in Group B.