Uganda edge Italy in one-wicket thriller

Uganda 151 for 9 (Kyobe 36) beat Italy 148 for 4 (Berg 62) by one wicket
Scorecard

Uganda pulled off a surprise victory over Italy to register their first win of the qualifiers in Abu Dhabi. Italy batted first, with the openers putting on a decent stand of 35. Wicketkeeper Andy Northcote was the first to go in the fifth over when he was trapped in front by offspinner Frank Nsubuga. Peter Petricola joined opener Gareth Berg to put on a further 39 runs by the 11th over. A couple of more small partnerships later, Italy were able to reach 148 for 4, with Berg top-scoring with 62 off 34 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes. This continued his good run of form, where he had scored 90 off 47 balls in the previous match against USA.

In reply, Uganda started rather abjectly, with opener Roger Mukasa falling off just the second ball of the innings. Abram Mutyagaba and Hamza Saleh then put on 33, before Saleh was bowled by Vince Pennazza. Arthur Kyobe came in next and smashed a 15-ball 36, which comprised five sixes, to help Uganda stay on par with the required rate.

But they also lost wickets at regular intervals. At 97 for 8 in the 14th over, there was still another 52 required for victory, with about six overs to go. Cameos from Richard Okia (33*) and Charles Waiswa (21) took them close, and Uganda were able to hold their nerve and score the winning runs with just one wicket in hand, and one ball to spare.

Hong Kong 168 for 5 (Ahmed 100) beat Canada 115 for 8 (Dar 4-17) by 53 runs
Scorecard

An Irfan Ahmed century, combined with Munir Dar's 4 for 17, helped Hong Kong make it three out of three as they defeated Canada by 53 runs in Abu Dhabi. Canada won the toss and put Hong Kong in to bat, which proved a significant miscalculation as Ahmed and Waqas Barkat flayed Canada's rather insipid bowling attack to the tune of 102 runs inside of 12 overs. After Barkat fell for 31, wickets began to fall more regularly, with Irfan plundering on to reach a maiden century in any format, finishing with 100 off 53 balls which included four fours and eight sixes. Hong King finished their quota of overs on 168 for 5.

Canada's innings did not start promisingly as their top three were gone with just 44 on the board in the 10th over. None of the batsmen were able to capitalise on their starts, with Jimmy Hansra (26) and Raza-ur-Rehman (23) being the only ones to cross into the twenties. Dar put on a splendid show with the ball, taking 4 for 17, as Canada stumbled to 115 for 8. This now means that Canada has lost both their opening matches, making qualification an uphill battle from here on.