PNG BARRAMUNDIS LOSE SECOND MATCH IN GROUP STAGE

·         UGANDA WIN FIRST EVER ICC T20 WORLD CUP MATCH BY THREE WICKETS

After just going down to the West Indies three days ago, the PNG Barramundis fell to their second loss of the group stage tonight at the Providence Stadium against a spirited Uganda team, who themselves were beaten in their first outing by Afghanistan. Having won the toss and sent the Barras into bat, the Uganda bowlers read the pitch conditions well and bowled out the Barras for only 77 runs. Although the Barras bowlers had Uganda 3 wickets down for only 6 runs at the end of the second over, Uganda pieced together two decent partnerships to pass the Barras total in the 18th over for the loss of 7 wickets.

Earlier, the Barras batted first on a pitch that kept low from the first ball and was difficult for the batters to get going on. Assadollah Vala missed the first ball outside off stump, then the second ball straightened, and he was adjudged leg-before wicket. Both Tony Ura and Sese Bau holed out at mid-on trying to hit over the top to see the Barras at 3 wickets for 19 runs after only 3.3 overs.

Despite a slight recovery to get to 3 wickets for 36 at the end of the six powerplay overs, wickets continued to fall to the Uganda spinners with Frank Nsubuga giving away only four runs in his four overs and taking the important wickets of Hiri Hiri and Charles Amini, while at the other end Juma Miyagi was also economical finishing with 2 wickets for 10 runs for his four overs.

There was no late recovery for the Barras and after Kipling Doriga hit the only six of the innings, the Barras were all out with five balls still to be bowled.

Small targets are often difficult to chase, although a target of 78 from 20 overs, looked relatively straightforward until Alei Nao with two leg-before-wicket decisions from his third and seventh deliveries, and Norman Vanua with a wicket from his first delivery, saw Uganda struggling at 3 wickets for 6 runs just 2.1 overs into their innings.

A partnership of 19 runs brought about a double bowling change by the Barras. When Soper bowled Alpesh Rampani and Assadollah Vala had Dinesh Nakrani caught and bowled for a duck, Uganda had lost their first 5 wickets just after the end of the powerplay. Still needing 52 runs to win, it seemed that the odds were now heading in favour of the PNG Barramundis.

The final turning point in the match was when Riazat Ali Shah, on 8 runs, was dropped off the bowling of Soper which would have seen Uganda at 6 wickets for 35 runs with plenty of work still to do. However, a steadying partnership of 35 between Riazat, who top-scored in the match with 33 from 56 balls, and Juma Miyagi with 13 runs, took Uganda to within 17 runs of victory. Although Miyagi was run out in the 14th over, and Riazat holed out in Vanua’s final over, Uganda duly completed the chase with 10 balls to spare.

The Barras would be disappointed with their batting which resulted in their lowest-ever T20 score of 77. Despite a brave comeback by the bowlers, missed chances and 15 extras meant Uganda were able to sneak home with the win.

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