Win Projections to be updated soon
In Match 32 of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, a massive cricket match, pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee tore through the East African nation’s batting order.
In an attempt to leave their first major tournament with a win consolation, newcomers Uganda (UGA) squared off against New Zealand (NZ). Interestingly enough, having already been eliminated from the massive ICC event, the Blackcaps were desperate to put their name in the win column as well. Notably, the match was played on Saturday, June 15, at Tarouba, Trinidad’s famed Brian Lara Stadium.
In their eight overs of combined bowling, the two Kiwi pacers shared five wickets apiece and gave up just 11 runs. Incredibly, the Boult-Southee combination also bowled two maidens, giving the Ugandan batters no break from their horrendous start, which had them at 3/3 after just as many overs. After that, all-round player Rachin Ravindra took full advantage of the circumstances, bagging three wickets in his three-over over.
Also read: Tim Southee face censure for violating the ICC Code of Conduct during the NZ vs. WI match in the T20 World Cup 2024
This meant Uganda could only achieve 40 runs in 18.2 overs, which is similar to the gameplay of a Test match. In addition, the East African country managed to get them into an undesirable record by scoring the second-lowest total of any team in the men’s Twenty20 Internationals on their way to their suffering. Notably, the Cranes almost missed breaking the record set by Sierra Leone (8/2) against Nigeria in 2021, managing only a 9/3 total.
The team led by Kane Williamson, who had previously won the toss and asked the minnows to bat first, easily defeated the opposition. Juma Miyagi and Cosmas Kyewuta, however, bowled brilliantly to tease the New Zealand openers, displaying glimmers of their bowling prowess in the middle. The lone wicket the Cranes were able to take during the T20 World Cup 2024 encounter came from Riazat Ali, who removed Allen in the fifth over. Consequently, New Zealand achieved an overwhelming victory over Uganda by easily reaching the mark in 5.2 overs.
Tim Southee, Player of the Match:
“It was obviously a pretty clinical performance, nice to get a win. (On the pitch) It has been a little tricky, trying to bring the stumps into play as much as possible. Extremely disappointed to play ourselves out of the tournament. You look at the side, plenty of experience and we were not at our best in the first two games. We have a proud record in World Cups in the last ten years and it has now come to an end.
(On if he has another World Cup left in him) Got a nice break leading into this World Cup. Body is feeling well, I love playing for New Zealand. Dream to play cricket and I still enjoy it, so you never know.”
Brian Masaba, Losing Captain:
“It has been a wonderful experience for us. Obviously, being here first time at this level, just the exposure to the quality players. It has done wonders for the game back home. The whole country has been following our progress, staying up late to watch games. hopefully it is a platform we can build on. I have tried to interact as much as I can with the top players, trying to pick their brain. Asking questions like what they did to get better. We are looking forward to what happens next for us, and hopefully this can help get it done.
(On the opposition teams they have interacted with) They have absolutely loved us and I want to say thank you to them. They have been happy when we have done well and happy to share words of encouragement when we have not done well. They have helped us wherever they can. Nice to see how the boys have gone, especially in the field. The two young fast bowlers have inspired a lot of kids back home.
They come from a humble background and to see them do what they do, there are a lot of kids dreaming about it as well. As a cricketer and as a player, that is what you hope for – to leave a mark and make it a better place. It is a very humbling experience and hopefully, Ugandan cricket can learn from this and build on this platform. (On how the West Indian fans have received them) They love us here and we love them back. We tell them we have a massive following back home. Very happy they have been receptive of us.”
Kane Williamson, Winning Captain:
“Guys were good. Obviously, there was plenty there in the surface and made life pretty difficult. Nice to do that job in the first half. Very tough, there is not a lot of control or ideas of method on how you identify six balls here and a match-up there. That is the difference between getting 110-115 and 80 or less. It has been unique, and nice to have done things a little bit better. (On having more teams at the World Cup and interacting with them) Great, you know.
More the merrier, in terms of exposure at the highest level. The conditions have been an added challenge but having that exposure is always a great thing to learn from. (Weekend plans) Recover tomorrow and then train and play again. Same discussions again and being respectful of the conditions and the surface, and playing as well as you can.”
India
