In their first match under new coach Abhay Sharma, the Cricket Cranes, Uganda men’s national cricket team commenced their tour of Sri Lanka with a T20 encounter against the Sri Lanka Development Team in Galle. Despite a valiant effort, the visitors fell short, conceding victory to the hosts by 19 runs on Sunday.
The Sri Lanka Development Team, batting first, posted a challenging total of 164/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Krishan Sanjula led the charge with a composed 45 off 40 balls, while Juma Miyaji showcased his bowling prowess for Uganda, claiming 3 wickets for 40 runs. Henry Ssenyondo also contributed with the ball, picking up 2 crucial wickets for 31 runs.
In reply, the Uganda XI displayed resilience but ultimately finished at 145/6 after their 20 overs, unable to chase down the target set by the home side. Dinesh Nakrani top-scored with a fluent 39 off 31 deliveries, supported by Riazat Ali Shah (31 off 18) and Alpesh Ramjani (31 off 27). However, Sri Lanka’s Shiran Fernando proved to be the difference-maker with the ball, claiming 2 wickets for 27 runs.
Despite the defeat, the Uganda Cricket Cranes remain optimistic as they look ahead to their next match on April 30th, also in Galle, as part of their ongoing preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Uganda’s T20 World Cup journey will unfold in Guyana and Trinidad. They kick off their campaign against Afghanistan on June 3 in Guyana, followed by clashes against PNG and hosts West Indies on June 5 and June 8 respectively. Their final group stage match will be against New Zealand in Trinidad on June 14.
