• ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers – Abuja, Nigeria
• Sunday Result: Nigeria 148 all out beat Uganda 147/9 by 1 run

Nigeria crushed the Cricket Cranes party in a game that was befitting of the top sides at the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers.

The Cricket Cranes cracked under pressure, especially when the rest of the tail had hardly had a lot of time in the middle and got exposed to some determined bowling from the hosts.

Nigeria won the toss in the final game and elected to put runs on the board. The two openers, Isaac Danladi (47) and Selim Salau (30), put pressure on the bowling of Uganda as they combined for 68 runs for the first wicket inside 7.2 overs.

Nigeria lost a lot of momentum in the next passage of play, with only Rahmon Ali (35) getting double as Uganda wrestled back control. Joseph Baguma (4/21) had the standout bowling figures, and Juma Miyaji (2/17) had the backup.

Nigeria posted 148 in their quota of 20, a total not the par score but one that they can be able to bowl at.

In the run chase, Robinson Obuya and Raghav Dhawan didn’t get Uganda off to a great start, and it was left to the captain, Riazat Ali Shah (60), and Gerald Olipa (18) to play another rescue act for Uganda. Their partnership of 78 put Uganda firmly in charge and in control of the game at the halfway stage. However, once the two departed, even with 39 required from as many as 36 balls, the drama that usually follows the Cricket Cranes was about to unfold.

The Cricket Cranes lost wickets in clusters, with six runs off six balls required; the game was in the balance. Whoever panicked in this moment was bound to lose; Cyrus Kakuru was run out needlessly while trying to force a single, and that left the balls fewer than the required runs. Juma Miyaji couldn’t provide any heroics with 3 runs needed off 1 ball to bring up a famous victory for Nigeria. It’s the first time Nigeria have defeated Uganda in a T20 international, and a sweet victory in front of their own home fans.

The Cricket Cranes will have the satisfaction of having secured a place at the Africa finals, but defeat to a side that is ranked 35th in the World will not go down well with so many fans. There is more pressure on head coach Steve Tikolo to find a sweet spot for his greatly talented team, and the reality is they will have to accept some growing pains before the good times return.