Uganda finished the first round of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B with an impressive unbeaten record after defeating Bahrain by 166 runs on Match Day 8 at Entebbe’s Lakeside Oval.
Uganda won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a competitive 267/8 in 50 overs. The standout performer was Shrideep Mangela, who scored a brilliant maiden List A century, finishing on 102 off 128 balls. Dinesh Nakrani also played a key role, scoring 76 off 47 balls to boost Uganda’s total. Bahrain’s bowlers, Ali Dawood (2/41) and Sohail Ahmed (2/47), fought hard but couldn’t stop Uganda’s progress.
In reply, Uganda’s bowlers dominated, dismissing Bahrain for just 101 runs in 40.5 overs. Left-arm spinners Alpesh Ramjani (3/13) and Henry Ssenyondo (3/31), along with Frank Nsubuga (2/22), were the heroes with the ball. Despite a fighting 50 from Bahrain’s Haider Ali, Uganda’s bowlers sealed the win comfortably.
Uganda finished the first round with nine points from four wins and a draw, two points ahead of Italy and Hong Kong China, who both ended with seven points. The hosts’ only setback was a rain-affected match against Hong Kong, where they secured one point.
Uganda’s strong performance was driven by solid batting from Mangela, Nakrani, and captain Riazat Ali Shah, who scored over 270 runs in the series. Ssenyondo’s outstanding bowling, with 13 wickets, was a highlight, supported by Ramjani and Nsubuga.
With the next round of qualifiers in Hong Kong in 2025, Uganda will aim to build on their successful start as they push for a place in the 2027 World Cup.
