Uganda Cricket trip - Mbarara

Last Saturday, February 12, 2011 the Rwanda Cricket Association hired a bus and took the National cricket team squad to Mbarara in Uganda for two days of Twenty20 practice matches against a Ugandan representative team.  We boarded the bus in Kigali around 5am and arrived just in time for our cricket game at 2pm.

In the first game, Rwanda won the toss and batted.  The Ugandan team bowled tightly to restrict Rwanda to a score of 85 from 20 overs.  The Ugandan side were set the task (by their coach) to chase this score down in less than 10 overs.  This looked like it would be easily achieved as Rwanda leaked 30 runs in the first three overs (including 11 wides).  Rwanda soon picked up their game and began to take some wickets and slow the scoring rate.  Uganda finally passed the Rwandan score in the 16^th over.

Captain and Vice Captain in discussion

Support from the boys

Eric H bowling

Sairam departs

The second game was played on Sunday morning and I was expecting a better showing from the Rwandan team after a good night’s sleep.  The team was altered slightly to ensure all 14 members of the squad played in a game during this trip.  After a discussion with the Ugandan Captain and Coach, it was agreed that Rwanda would bowl first in this game.

While Rwanda’s bowling was a lot tighter on Sunday, the Ugandan batting was more aggressive.  Their batsmen came out playing their shots and immediately sent the ball flying to (and over) the boundary.  It was a powerful display of batting and took the Rwandan team by surprise.  Luckily we held onto some sharp catches and continued to take wickets.  Uganda finished their 20 overs with a score of 150.

Once again Rwanda was restricted by Uganda’s tight opening bowlers, which ensured the team was off to a slow start.  Wickets fell at regular intervals, yet the middle and lower order batter well and Rwanda finished with 100 runs from their 20 overs.

While we did not win a game, the boys have learned many valuable lessons and now know what it takes to perform at a higher level.  I hope we can take the lessons learned and apply them to our own games to ensure Rwanda become a stronger team. 

The practice matches provided the Rwandan team with a perfect hit out before the upcoming Twenty20 tournament that begins in Accra, Ghana in late February, 2011.