By Fred Mubiru
KAMPALA, Feb 13. – Uganda Cricket Cranes have today stopped hosts Hong Kong-China in the second leg of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Challenge League B qualifiers.
The win by 76 runs at the Kowloon Cricket Club helped Uganda maintain an unbeaten run and top of the log with 16 points from nine matches played.
After setting for a draw with Italy on Wednesday because of bad weather, Uganda Cricket Cranes came back determined to win on Thursday. They took to the bat first to put on 276 runs (49.5 ovals), while Hong Kong-China chased and collapsed at 200 runs (46.3 ovals).
Uganda’s Alpesh Ramjani who was voted Player of the Match picked 68 runs, Raghav Dhawan 52 runs, while captain Riazat Ali Shah collected 40 runs.
The hosts had skipper Yasim Murtaza collect 50 runs, while Zeesham Ali and Ehsan Khan picked 51 and 29 runs respectively.
Uganda will next face fifth placed Tanzania on Saturday. “We shall continue to work hard ahead of the match against Tanzania because we know every match is very important in these qualifiers,” said Uganda Cricket Cranes captain Riazat Ali Shah.
After eight matches Italy are second with 12 points, while Hong Kong-China also have 12 points, Bahrain 9 points, while Tanzania and Singapore have collected 2 and 1 point respectively.
The team that wins the qualifiers after the third round to be played in Tanzania later this year will qualify for secure a spot in the ODI-rated playoffs of the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
