The opening game of the Bilateral 50 Over Series between Uganda and Papua New Guinea ended in defeat for the Cricket Cranes following their 81 run loss to the visitors on Wednesday.
PNG- who Uganda beat at the latter’s maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies three months ago to register their first and only win at the competition- elected to bat first when they won the toss.
Uganda- on the day- captained by Riazat Ali Shah took to the field and courtesy of Henry Senyondo, did some commendable job.
PNG started off the show ordinarily, managing just 36 in the first powerplay, but when the opening pair of Sese Bau (40) and Tony Pala Ura (42) settled in, PNG gained confidence.
The Cricket Cranes however, took the bull by its horn, ensuring their opponents manage just 176 in the 48.5 Overs they batted. Senyondo with an economy of 2.40 and 4 wickets from his 10 Overs made sure of that, but PNG were equally good on the attack.
The visitors had their hosts bowled out in the 30.1 Overs with both Gaudi Toka and John Kariko picking three wickets each. Alpesh Ramjani (20), Dinesh Nakrani (21) and veteran Frank Nsubuga (25) got double figures for Uganda and appeared to be on the right direction, but with wickets falling at a rapid rate, Uganda with the required run rate favouring them failed to find the target.
Aside from the loss, the unwanted news from the game was former captain Brian Masaba suffering a recurring hamstring injury. The spinner was forced to retire in the first innings and couldn’t bat for his side during the chase.
The two sides will continue with the series on Thursday at the same ground, the Lakeside Oval, Entebbe.
