Despite sounding Performances, the Uganda Cricket Cranes’the team remained below the level of Nigeria, who were on a trophy mission in Abuja during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifiers.
Though Joseph Baguma took 4 wickets and captain Riazat Ali Shah scored 60 runs, the contest on Sunday, October 25, ended in a 1-run loss for the Cricket Cranes.
With both teams already qualified for the Africa Regional Final Qualifiers for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup, Uganda bowled out Nigeria two balls before the allotted overs in the first innings chasing for the trophy.
Nigeria posted 148 in 19.4 overs, with Joseph Baguma picking up 4 wickets and Juma Miyagi taking 2, but Isaac Danladi earned the man-of-the-match honors with 48 runs off 28 balls.
In the innings, Uganda’s bowlers struggled to control the economy, though Juma Miyagi got the best economy rate of the game standing at 4.25 but the team still conceded much runs.
Uganda came in chasing the target of 149 runs with expectations of winning and captain Riazat Ali Shah commanded well with 60 runs off 36 balls, but his team faced limited opportunities against the Nigerian bowlers.
After 20 overs with one wicket standing, Uganda ended up with 147 runs losing the game and concluding the Sub-Regional World Cup Qualifiers in a loss though the team successfully progressed to the final round.
During the campaign in Abuja, Nigeria, Uganda won 4 of their 5 games, defeating Zambia, Lesotho, Gambia, and Mozambique, but finished behind the hosts who won all five matches.