Uganda men’s national cricket team, Cricket Cranes, delivered a stellar performance to overpower hosts Hong Kong-China by 76 runs in a thrilling contest at the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) Challenge League B on February 13. This victory solidified Uganda’s position at the top of the standings with 16 points, four clear of their closest rivals, Italy and the hosts.
Despite a challenging start after Hong Kong-China won the toss and opted to field, Uganda’s tactical brilliance in all three departments shone through.
Batting first, Uganda set an imposing target of 276 runs in 49.5 overs. Star all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani led the charge with a stellar 68 off 54 balls, supported by Raghav Dhawan (52 off 77) and skipper Riazat Ali Shah (40 off 25). The Hong Kong-China bowlers, spearheaded by Ehsan Khan (4/53 in 10 overs) and Yasim Murtaza (3/34 in 8.5 overs), applied pressure but couldn’t contain Uganda’s aggressive batting lineup.
In response, Hong Kong-China struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for 200 runs in 46.3 overs. Uganda’s disciplined bowling, led by Player of the Match Alpesh Ramjani (4/18 in 9 overs), alongside Cosmas Kyewuta (2/43 in 8.3 overs) and Juma Miyaji (2/54 in 9 overs), dismantled the hosts’ batting order. Wicketkeeper-batsman Zeeshan Ali (51 off 64) and Yasim Murtaza (50 off 67) showed some resistance, but Uganda’s bowlers proved too strong.
Uganda Head Coach Abhay Sharma lauded the team’s all-round performance, stating, “We played a perfect game. Scoring 277 was always going to be a challenge for the opposition. There is no celebration yet—our job is not finished, and we must focus on the next match against Tanzania.”
Player of the Match Alpesh Ramjani credited his success to sticking to the game plan, adding, “My role was to contribute with both bat and ball, and I am happy it worked out for the team.”
Uganda’s next challenge will be against Tanzania on Saturday, February 15, at the Tin Kwong Recreation Ground (TKRRG). A win would further cement Uganda’s dominance in the tournament and fuel their quest for a spot in the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, set to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Match summary
Uganda: 276/10 in 49.5 overs (Alpesh Ramjani 68, Raghav Dhawan 52, Riazat Ali Shah 40; Ehsan Khan 4/53, Yasim Murtaza 3/34)
Hong Kong-China: 200/10 in 46.3 overs (Zeeshan Ali 51, Yasim Murtaza 50; Alpesh Ramjani 4/18, Cosmas Kyewuta 2/43, Juma Miyaji 2/54)
Result: Uganda won by 76 runs.
