Uganda have no answer for Nepal spinners
The African teams of Uganda and Namibia have had a torrid time at the Under 19 World Cup as was highlighted by their defeats to Nepal and USA respectively.
Ronnie Kintu
14-Feb-2006
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A powerful Nepal spin bowling attack left Ugandan batsmen hand capped losing their ICC U-19 World Cup plate match by 60 runs at the P. Sara international stadium here yesterday.
Uganda that has notched four consecutive losses in the 16-nation youth championship has been rescheduled by the international governing body (ICC) to return home on Friday after their last tie and not Sunday following their poor performance.
Batting first, man-of-match Gayanendra Malla (64) patiently ensured Nepal reached a competitive total of 192 in 50 overs after struggling to the orthodox spin bowling of Raymond Otim (3-20 in 8) and off spinner Davis Arinaitwe (2-17 in10).
Malla defied all odds with Basant Regmi (42 not out) hauling Nepal back from a miserable low-point of 85-5 after Charles Waiswa had picked two early wickets.
A good start in the chase by captain Hamza Saleh (23) and Arthur Kyobe (16) that ensured a first stand of 54 runs in ten overs only opened a can of warms for Uganda as the opponents rightly applied spin bowling that put them on the back foot claiming all the Ugandan batsmen.
Poor shot selection, poor running between the wickets and a spirited fielding from Nepal ensured five stumpings, two slip catches and two silly run outs for Uganda exposing the East Africans who were eager for a win to keep their hope alive of playing the semifinals of the Plate Cup.
It was Roger Mukasa who suffered most notching a hat-trick of ducks in the tournament after attempting a run with the ball in the hands of the fielder.
Mukasa who was dropped earlier as opening batsman came in at number four.
"The boys lost their way against the spinners and we never got any partnerships going to get us to the target", a disappointed Sam Walusimbi said after the match.
Uganda will take on Scotland that suffered a 185 run humiliation to South Africa in the Plate Championship play-off semi-final at P.Saravanamuttu Stadium on Friday.