T20 World Cup qualifiers: Hong Kong lose to Uganda for second time as batting woes return in fifth place play-off game
- Hong Kong lose by 4 runs after failing to chase down target of 103 at Queens Sports Club
- Stand of 55 between Zeeshan Ali and Shahid Wasif sets up exciting finish in Zimbabwe
Hong Kong ended their T20 World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday in exactly the same manner in which they started it, by losing to Uganda.
While the margin of defeat was four runs this time, as opposed to the two wickets in the opening group game, Hong Kong’s batting let them down again in another low-scoring affair.
Chasing 103 to win the fifth place play-off game, Hong Kong started badly, gave themselves a sight of victory, and then fell off again.
Aizaz Khan started the slide when he was bowled through his legs by Frank Nsubuga for eight, but it was Babar Hayat’s dismissal five balls later that summed up his side’s batting in the early overs.
Coming to the crease at 15 for one, Hayat lasted three balls before he set off for a single to mid-on and was run out by Frank Akankwasa.
From 16 for two, Hong Kong slipped to 34 for five as Nizakat Khan (9), Kinchit Shah (6) and Yasim Murtaza (3) all followed in short order against a Uganda bowling attack that controlled proceedings.
Cosmas Kyewuta aside, none of the other four bowlers gave away more than 18 runs, with Juma Miyagi, Billal Hassun and Kyewuta taking two wickets apiece.
Uganda though were nearly responsible for their own demise, with a dropped catch and expensive 17th over giving Hong Kong a sniff of victory.
At 47 for five at the start of the 15th over, Zeeshan Ali and Shahid Wasif were slowly going about the task of trying to salvage the game, and got a little bit of luck that changed the momentum.
Ali was dropped by Simon Ssesazi at deep midwicket when on five, and the pair then took their side to 89 for five, with 17 runs coming from Hassun’s third over.
Hong Kong needed 17 runs from the last two overs, but Hassun bowled Wasif for 22 and then kept things tight to leave them 91 for six.
Needing 12 to win, Ali (26) was out chopping a Kyewuta delivery onto his stumps, Ehsan Khan followed next ball, and Hong Kong finished on 98 for eight.
Uganda’s innings hardly set the world alight, but it took Hong Kong until the 10th over to finally get a wicket when Ssesazi (23) was trapped lbw by Mohammad Ghazanfar with Uganda on 51.
Opening partner Ronak Patel (22), Rizat Ali Shah (14) and Miyagi (10) were the only other batters to make double figures, although the 13 extras Hong Kong conceded helped them pass 100, as they finished on 102 for seven.
Mohammad was the pick of the Hong Kong bowlers, and finished with figures of three for 22.
