By Miguel Suleyman
Uganda’s 52-run victory against Bahrain and Tanzania’s 8-wicket loss to Italy anticipate the second stage of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League B in Hong Kong to look like a throwback to the first stage held in Kampala late last year.
In the first stage of the League B Challenge held in Kampala in November last year, Tanzania lost to Italy while Uganda who were the hosts, won their opener and went on to win the championship.
Similar results were recorded in Hong Kong during the event’s openers on Wednesday where Uganda defeated Bahrain by 52 runs in a thrilling game held at Mission Road Oval in Mong Kok, Hong Kong while on the same day, Tanzana was pulverized by Italy in a match staged at Kowloon Club oval in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
At Mong Kok Oval, Uganda who opted to bat first, managed to haul 249 runs for 9 in a 50 overs game.
Bahrain’s onslaught saw them ending with 197 runs all out, hence Uganda claimed a 52-run victory.
Uganda won through batting excellence from Raghav Dhawan who scored 85 runs from 105 balls, and Riazat Ali Shah who carved 49 runs from 55 balls while Imran Khan claimed 2 wickets and Imran Anwar took 2 wickets
At Kowloon Club Oval in Kowloon, Tanzania lost heavily to Italy due to poor batting.
Tanzania opted to bat first and posted an inferior 94 runs from 25 out of 50 allotted overs.
Italy easily overcame the score by using just 13 overs to fire 95 for the loss of 2 wickets.
It was a dismal run as Tanzania lost all 10 batsmen without reaching a century.
The thorn in the Tanzanians’ path was Marcus Campopiano who netted 44 runs from 41 balls aided by Anthony Mosca who created 19 runs from 17 balls.
Both Tanzania and Uganda will be in action tomorrow. Tanzania will face Bahrain at Mission Road Oval in Mong Kok while Uganda will be at Kowloon Oval to face Singapore in their second game of the world-class tournament.
