Cricket Cranes secured a hard-fought victory in their final match of the second round of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League B, defeating their East African neighbors, Tanzania, by 59 runs. This win was crucial for Uganda, keeping them firmly at the top of the group standings.
The match saw Tanzania winning the toss and opting to bowl first on what one could call a lively wicket. Uganda struggled early on as their top order was dismantled by the Tanzanian bowlers. Ally Kimote (4/20) and Khalidy Juma (1/30) took advantage of the conditions, reducing Uganda to a challenging 40/4. However, Raghav Dhawan’s determined 63, combined with vital contributions from Fred Achellam (21) and Dinesh Nakrani (23), helped Uganda reach a total of 148 in 42 overs.
In their chase of 149, Tanzania’s batting crumbled under pressure. Juma Miyagi (6/17) led Uganda’s attack with his best bowling figures in List A cricket, as the Tanzanian side was bowled out for just 89 in 29.1 overs. Cosmas Kyewuta (2/17), Dinesh Nakrani (1/20), and Bilal Hassun (1/23) supported Miyagi well, ensuring that all 10 wickets fell to the fast bowlers.
While Uganda’s win was not without a scare, their dominance in the bowling department proved decisive. Miyagi’s match-winning performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
With the win, Uganda maintains a four-point lead over second-placed Italy, as they prepare for the third round of the competition scheduled for 2026.
