Baby Cricket Cranes Go Unbeaten to Win ICC U19 Africa Division 2 Title in Kigali
The Baby Cricket Cranes capped a perfect tournament with a five-wicket win over hosts Rwanda U19 in the final of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier at Gahanga International Stadium.
Chasing 90, Uganda reached 90/5 in 19.1 overs to secure their fifth straight victory and finish the campaign unbeaten.
Match Summary – Final
Rwanda U19: 89 all out in 28.4 overs
Uganda U19: 90/5 in 19.1 overs
Result: Uganda U19 won by 5 wickets
Player of the Match: Jackson Asiku
Uganda won the toss and elected to field, bringing in Larry Elton Itaagi and Felix Ochan for Kenneth Isiiko and Kassimu Adam.
Rwanda were pegged back early by Uganda’s disciplined bowling and were dismissed for 89 in 28.4 overs.
Jackson Asiku starred with 4/23 from nine overs, while Itaagi added 3/17 from 6.4 overs.
Eric Hagenimana and Fabrice Kwizera resisted briefly for Rwanda, but the hosts failed to build partnerships.
Uganda wobbled in the chase but recovered to get over the line with five wickets to spare.
The result completed a dominant run for the Baby Cricket Cranes. They beat Nigeria by 5 wickets, Mozambique by 384 runs, Ghana by 175 runs, Sierra Leone by 98 runs, and Rwanda by 5 wickets.
Head Coach Grace Mutyagaba said the focus now shifts to Division One:
“Being a young team, they can easily get carried away and excited, and that’s why we lost early wickets.
Winning this tournament is just the beginning. We have to go and work and begin preparations for Division One because the ultimate target is winning Division One and going back to the World Cup.”
He added:
“We shall bring everyone, including the lads that we left home. We have to start the work, and we take all the lessons from this tournament as we look forward.”
Player of the Match Jackson Asiku, who took 4/23, kept the bigger picture in mind:
“Our dream does not end here. This is just the beginning. Our dream is playing in the World Cup.”
The Baby Cricket Cranes return home as ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 champions, unbeaten and a step closer to Division One.
“We are grateful to all the fans in Rwanda and back home in Uganda for supporting us. We shall make you proud.”