The Uganda Cricket Cranes staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the DP World Lions XI by two wickets in Pretoria on Monday, sealing a 2-0 series lead in their Tour of South Africa.
Chasing 160, Uganda looked in trouble at 20 for 5 after a shaky start against a strong Lions bowling attack. But skipper Riazat Ali Shah (41 off 31) and all-rounder Dinesh Nakrani (54 off 30) steadied the innings with a gritty 76-run partnership that shifted momentum back in Uganda’s favour.
The late fireworks came from Juma Miyaji, who smashed 29 from just 16 balls, supported by lower-order contributions from Cosmas Kyewuta and veteran Frank Nsubuga, guiding the Cranes to victory with four balls to spare.
Earlier, Uganda’s bowlers kept the Lions to 159 for 7 in 20 overs, with young pacer Joseph Baguma starring with 3 for 19, while Nsubuga (1/16) and Miyaji (2/45) chipped in. The Lions’ lineup included Proteas international Peter Nqabayomzi, who dismissed Robinson Obuya for just 2.
Head coach Jackson Ogwang praised his side’s resilience:
“We showed that we are a tough team and want to stay in the face of the rival for a long time. The boys showed they’re willing to fight. We will take the result and look for even more from the batters.”
Captain Riazat Ali Shah echoed the sentiment, noting how valuable the tough contest was:
“These are the type of games we want to play. They test our resolve and make us better. Hats off to Nakrani and Miyaji. They’re true all-rounders and very important for us going forward.”
The result means Uganda cannot lose the series, leading 2-0 with one game to play. Their final outing comes tomorrow against Momentum Multiply Titans, champions of the Metro T10, at TuksCricket Oval in Pretoria.
Match Summary:
DP World Lions XI: 159/7 (20 overs)
Uganda XI: 163/8 (19.2 overs)
Uganda won by 2 wickets
Next Fixture: Uganda vs Titans XI – Tuesday, 11:00 am at TuksCricket Oval, HPC Pretoria.
