Henry Ssenyondo and Alpesh Ramjani were in a class of their own on Saturday as Uganda beat Papua New Guinea by 43 runs to take the four-day 50 Over Series to 2-1.
The 50 Over Series began on Wednesday with the visitor’s comfortable 81-run win, and another victory on Thursday in the second game. They were poised to seal the Series on Saturday, but the Cricket Cranes bowling attack were not having it.
The Cricket Cranes lost the toss for the third time in this tournament, but unlike the first two games, they were sent in to set the proceedings.
The team’s opening batter Simon Ssesazi was rested on Saturday, and head coach Abhay Sharma opted for Shrideep Mangela who is debuting for the national team at this tournament and Robinson Obuya who was playing his first game of the tournament.
The two faced a slow start, with the former managing 22 and the latter 9, but the middle order consisting of team captain Riazat Ali Shah (17), Dinesh Nakrani (21) and Fred Achelam (20) brought some stability into the team.
The trio coupled with Raghav Dhawan (21) and Juma Miyaji (31)- who entered at No.3 and who ended up scoring the most runs for Uganda- conjured a total of 178/10 in the 45.3 Overs.
It was an enticing target on paper for PNG. Tony Pala Ura (35) and their captain Assad Vala (66) steered their side, but that’s all PNG could show off with the bat. The rest of the players were sent packing with single digits to their names.
Thanks to Ramjani who picked three wickets and Ssenyondo who plucked four, Uganda were able to defend their total. Ramjani picked the biggest of them all, Vala. Vala’s 66 is the first half century at this Series. He was on course to lead his team to a third win, but once Obuya caught his lofted ball at deep midwicket in the 39.4 Over, it was game down for PNG.
John Kariko joined the crease to replace his captain, but faced only three balls. Ssenyondo wrapped the proceedings with Kariko’s wicket.
The Series now reads 2-1. The two sides will go at it again on Sunday in the final game of the Series.
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