- By Namrata Vijay
- Thu, 06 Jun 2024 10:05 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
UGA vs PNG, T20 World Cup 2024: Uganda registered their first win of the 2024 T20 World Cup on Thursday at the Providence stadium in Guyana. They comfortably chased down the below-par target of 78 runs on the back of Riazat Ali’s gritty knock of 33 runs and defeated fellow associate team Papua New Guinea.
Uganda bounced back after being hammered by 125 runs to Afghanistan and then defeated PNG for the first time in the history of this tournament. Skipper Brian Masaba scored the winning runs in the middle.
Uganda had a tough time chasing the target as they had lost seven wickets and could only chase the target during the 19th over. But it didn’t matter to them as they celebrated this victory. Masaba led the team from the front in Guyana as the fans cheered for their team, who qualified for this event for the first time.
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The Ugandan players were seen dancing while celebrating the win.
"It is a pretty special win for us. Our first win at the World Cup doesn't get more special than this. I am super proud of the work they put in. To get a win for their country at a World Cup is special. It has been quite a journey. Three to four years of very, very hard work, with the players and the board back home. Getting to the World Cup was special, but this is more special," Brian Masaba told reporters in the post-match press conference.
Frank Nsubuga script history
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Uganda won the toss and chose to bowl first. In the first over itself, Alpesh Ramjani dismissed PNG skipper Assad Vala for a duck.
PNG were 19/3 inside the powerplay and that's when Cosmas Kyewula and Juma Miyagi dismissed Tony Ura and Sese Bau.
Hiri was PNG’s highest run-scorer as he scored 15 runs. There were only three PNG batters Hiri, Laga Siaka, and Kilplin Doriga, who could score more than 10 runs.
Uganda’s Frank Nsubuga created history as he bowled the most economical spell in the history of the tournament. He took two wickets and gave away just four runs in the four overs that he bowled.
Riazat Ali Shah- Uganda's savior
Uganda had a shaky start to their chase as they were reeling at 6/3 after both the openers Roger Mukasa and Simon Ssesazi and Robinson Obuya were dismissed in the first three overs.
And that’s when Riazat Ali Shah helped the team bounce back. Despite his efforts, they were reeling at 26/5.
But Riazat and Juma Lyagi then stitched a match-winning partnership of 35 runs for the sixth wicket.
Uganda will lock horns with West Indies in their next match at the same venue on Saturday.
