Baby Cricket Cranes captain Pascal Murungi has been named Uganda’s standout player at the 2022 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup that took place in the West Indies.

Murungi excelled at roles of being a leader on and off the pitch as he inspired Uganda to two wins, the most for any team that has graced the tournament from the Pearl.

The team won the last two Plate group matches against PNG and Scotland to complete the World Cup journey in 13th position.

Pascal was Uganda’s top scorer with the bat, amassing 191 runs at 31.83, including a high score of 63 against Ireland, also taking nine wickets in six matches.

“He did justice to his role with his all-round performances and was the standout player for Uganda,” wrote ICC media.

The top wicket taker was Juma Miyaji who picked 13 wickets at 17.76, including 4/25 against Scotland.

Uganda produced an excellent performance to win the 13th-place playoff in Diego Martin against Scotland in the 2022 U19 World Cup.

Scotland had been handed a bye into the fixture against Uganda courtesy of Canada’s COVID-related early departure from the tournament.

The Scots went into the game looking for their first win, their fifth and final match of the World Cup. However they struggled for big impact, particularly with the bat.

Jamie Cairns took 6/24 off 6.4 overs, something that gave them smiles but the bowling attack as a whole struggled to restrict Uganda’s top order.

Ronald Lutaaya’s 64 and Pascal Murungi’s 49 aided the Pearl to a total of 226 all out after just 35.4 overs.

In reply five Scottish batters made starts, but something wasn’t just right. The rain delay didn’t help either as the final seven wickets fell for 64 runs.

The excellent Juma Miyaji (4/25) and Christopher Kidega (3/23) destroyed Scotland with the ball as Uganda finished their World Cup with impressive back-to-back wins, the other being Paupa New Guinea (PNG).

The Baby Cricket Cranes dropped to the plate playoff semi-finals after suffering another loss at the 2022 U19 World Cup against United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

The Cranes were close to their first win as UAE survived a dramatic batting collapse. UAE won by one wicket though to and set up a clash with either host nation West Indies or Papua New Guinea in the next round.

Standout player Adhitya Shetty shone with the ball and held his nerve with the bat to help UAE progress. To be precise he took four wickets to help dismiss Uganda for 123.

Uganda opted to bat upon winning the toss and started cautiously, adding 30 for the opening wicket before Ronald Opio was trapped in front by Shetty in the 11th over.

The leg-spinner went on to claim Uganda skipper Pascal Murungi (23) finishing with 4-29 from his 10 overs.

Ronald Lutaaya collected 25 but when he was run out. Uganda lost their final five wickets for the addition of just 38 runs – Aayan Afzal Khan mopping up the tail with two for seven.

UAE made a strong start in the chase of 124, Kai Smith hitting five boundaries, however it all turned around after the loss of just Smith. In a space of 14 balls as UAE fell from 61 for one to 62 for five.

Matthew Musinguzi and Joseph Baguma finished with three wickets apiece to set up. Khan’s 22 and a patient 63-ball 15 from Soorya Sathish gave UAE hope but both fell to Edwin Nuwagaba to put Uganda back in the driving seat.

UAE completed the job with a couple of boundaries with 9.3 overs to spare. Uganda’s next game will be on Friday 28th January at Diego Martin Sporting Complex.

Uganda’s U19 Cricket team to the World Cup in West Indies will need to recover well after losing to India in their last group B game on Saturday.

Raj Bawa and opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi smashed blistering centuries to power a COVID-hit India to a mammoth 405 for five.

The score was the highest total in this edition of the tournament, India having already sealed a quarterfinal spot despite missing five players owing to COVID-19.

India’s highest score in the U-19 World Cup remains 425 for three set against Scotland in 2004, while Australia hold the world record score of 480 for six against Kenya in 2002.

Invited to bat, opener Raghuvanshi scored 144 off 120 balls while Bawa remained unbeaten on 162 off just 108 deliveries.

The duo shared 206 runs for the third wicket to take the game away from Uganda. For Uganda, Pascal Murungi picked up three wickets for 72 runs but it wasn’t enough to change anything.

One of the biggest highlights of the game was Joseph Baguma catch that drew attention of the worldwide audience during the first innings.

Uganda now heads to the plate quarter-finals to face UAE on Tuesday at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago.

India are likely to be without five players on their team when they face Uganda in the U19 Cricket World Cup after all tested positive for COVID 19.

India has already progressed to the into the Super League quarterfinals after thrashing minnows Ireland by 174 runs.

However, Skipper Yash Dhull and his deputy Sheikh Rasheed were out of the game and it could be the same story on Saturday when they line up against the Baby Cricket Cranes.

Batter Aaradhya Yadav, Vasu Vats, Manav Parakh, and Siddharth Yadav were also found infected with the virus and it is suspected the infections may have been contracted during the team’s stay in Guyana.

The mandatory quarantine for COVID-positive players is 10 days and all those isolating right now will be out till the knockout stage of the tournament.

Uganda will be seeking their first victory at the coveted tournament after losing to Ireland by 39 runs and South Africa by 121 runs.

Baby Cricket Cranes Schedule;

22 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) India vs Uganda | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

Match Summary

South Africa U-19 231/9 in 50 Overs

• Dewald Bevis 104
• George Heerden 36
• Matthew Musinguzi 1/40

• Joseph Baguma 1/29
• Pascal Murungi 3/58
• Juma Miyagi 3/33

Uganda U-19 110 all-out in 33.4/50 Overs

• Isaac Ategeka 29
• Fahad Mutagana 16
• Cyrus Kakuru 14

• Liam Alder 2/13
• Dewald Bevis 2/18

*South Africa won by 121 runs

The Baby Cricket Cranes were on the back foot again as they lost to South Africa in their second game at the U19 Cricket World Cup in West Indies.

Dewald Brevis smashed a century but South Africa were restricted to 231 for nine by Uganda in their group A match in Port of Spain.

One-down Brevis, who struck 11 fours and one six during his 110-ball knock, played a lone hand as he did not get any support from his team-mates except for his captain George Van Heerden (36) after South Africa opted to bat.

The duo stitched 74 runs for the third wicket to ensure that South Africa reach close to 250-run mark.

Pascal Murungi and Juma Miyaji took three wickets apiece while Yunusu Sowobi, Joseph Baguma and Edwin Nuwagaba got one each.

Uganda’s chase wasn’t successful only Isaac Ategeka (29) pulling the strings s far as he could get. There was no no meaningful partnership holding together the chase and the Baby Cricket Cranes were bundled out for 110.

Baby Cricket Cranes Schedule pending progression to the Plate League or Super League;

22 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) India vs Uganda | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

Baby Cricket Cranes captain Pascal Murungi feels the outfit isn’t far from the best teams in the world despite losing their first match against Ireland at the World Cup in West Indies.

The side showed a lot of improvement with their batting despite going down by 39 runs.

Ireland’s Joshua Cux (111 not out) anchored the innings for the Irish even when wickets were falling around him to take his team over the line.

However, Pascal (63) who led from the front forging a 53-run partnership with Joseph Baguma to took the chase past the 100 runs says his colleagues are still positive.

“It’s all about showing the World that we can also play the game,” he told media. “However much we lost, we are not far from the good teams.

“Ireland is a good team, but we have showed them that we have the talent to challenge them. We hope to keep building on the positive, we have to do what are supposed to do right.”

Uganda faces South Africa next on Tuesday at Queen’s Park Oval. South Africa lost their World Cup opener to India by 45 runs.

The last time Uganda faced South Africa U19 was in 2004. The latter won by 8 wickets (with 132 balls remaining).

MATCH SUMMARY  

Ireland Under-19s Men v Uganda Under-19s Men, U19 World Cup Group Stage, Guyana, 15 January 2022  

Ireland 236-9 (50 overs: J Cox 111*, P le Roux 32; J Baguma 2-34)

Uganda 197 (48.1 overs: P Murunga 63; M Humphreys 4-25, N McGuire 2-29)    

Ireland Under-19s won by 39 runs

Baby Cricket Cranes Schedule pending progression to the Plate League or Super League;

18 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) South Africa vs Uganda | Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

Baby Cricket Cranes coach Ivan Thawithemwira is still hopeful despite losing to Ireland in the opening game of the 2022 U19 World Cup in the West Indies.

The team showed a lot of improvement with their batting despite going down by 39 runs.

Ireland’s Joshua Cox put his name up in lights with a magnificent hundred but Thawithemwira feels there is more room for improvement for the Cranes.

“We managed to push the envelope, we managed to push our boundaries, the boys gave a good account of themselves,” said Thawithemwira.

“We saw some good scores, they managed to play out at least 48 overs. We managed to challenge one of the Test Playing Nations and we are happy with what the boys managed to achieve.

“We have very good building blocks on which we can construct our house. We have seen the bowling department do their part, they managed to contain Ireland.

“We saw some good partnerships and a good half century. There was good finishing from Miyaji. Many of our KPIs have been ticked off today.

“We have just have to look at our starts, especially the batting, how we start has been a problem once again today. We just have to see how we can improve. But we are hopeful that we shall be able to rectify all that.”

The Baby Cricket Cranes will be back in action on Tuesday for their second game when they take on South Africa Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago.

MATCH SUMMARY  

Ireland Under-19s Men v Uganda Under-19s Men, U19 World Cup Group Stage, Guyana, 15 January 2022  

Ireland 236-9 (50 overs: J Cox 111*, P le Roux 32; J Baguma 2-34)

Uganda 197 (48.1 overs: P Murunga 63; M Humphreys 4-25, N McGuire 2-29)

Ireland Under-19s won by 39 runs

Baby Cricket Cranes Schedule pending progression to the Plate League or Super League;

18 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) South Africa vs Uganda | Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

22 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) India vs Uganda | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

The Baby Cricket Cranes will now embark on mending what is broken after arriving in Trinidad and Tobago for their matches against India and South Africa.

The first outing against Ireland ended in a loss despite captain Pascal Murungi’s 63 run haul. Ireland’s Joshua Cox put his name up in lights with a magnificent hundred.

Making 111 not out from 113 balls, Cox was instrumental in Ireland’s total of 236, with Uganda’s attack of  Juma Miyaji, Murungi, Joseph Baguma and Matthew Musinguzi all posing threats.

Murungi then made 63 with the bat, along with Miyaji’s 38, though the Ugandan side fell 39 runs short.

Mark Humphreys, fresh off his strong performance at the European qualifier, claimed four wickets for Ireland.

The Baby Cricket Cranes were originally stationed in Guyana but have since switched based to take on South Africa on the 18th and India on 22nd.

MATCH SUMMARY  

Ireland Under-19s Men v Uganda Under-19s Men, U19 World Cup Group Stage, Guyana, 15 January 2022  

Ireland236-9 (50 overs: J Cox 111*, P le Roux 32; J Baguma 2-34)

Uganda197 (48.1 overs: P Murunga 63; M Humphreys 4-25, N McGuire 2-29)    

Ireland Under-19s won by 39 runs

Baby Cricket Cranes Schedule pending progression to the Plate League or Super League;

18 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) South Africa vs Uganda | Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

22 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) India vs Uganda | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

15 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) Ireland vs Uganda | Venue: Everest Cricket Club, Guyana

Ireland captain Tim Tector feels his countrymates are confident ahead of their clash against Uganda’s Baby Cricket Cranes at the 2022 U19 World Cup in the West Indies.

Ireland have played two warm-up games against Scotland and Sri Lanka. Their first outing saw them lose to Sri Lanka who won by 128 runs.

After Scotland defeating Uganda by 106 runs, Ireland defeated them by 7 wickets in their second warm up game signaling a tougher outfit ahead of the showpiece.

“We have Uganda first up and our focus is on that first, we are pretty confident for that game but you’ve got to take it one game at a time,” Tector told ICC Media.

“India will be a different challenge in itself – none of us have ever played a game on TV before so that part about it will be a bit different.

“There’s always going to be a few nerves about playing those big games, but I think when the time comes and when we step over the rope we will be ready to go.”

The last time Uganda’s U19 side faced Ireland was in the 2004 and 2006 World Cup editions. The Pearl lost both encounters, Ireland winning by 123 runs and 6 wickets respectively.

Baby Cricket Cranes Schedule pending progression to the Plate League or Super League;

15 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) Ireland vs Uganda | Venue: Everest Cricket Club, Guyana

18 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) South Africa vs Uganda | Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

22 January 2022 | 17:00 (EAT) India vs Uganda | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago