🏏ICC T20I WC 2024, Match 9:PNG vs Uganda 🏏

🏏ICC T20I WC 2024, Match 9:PNG vs Uganda , @Providence🏏

Papua New Guinea will be searching for their first victory of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as they take on Uganda on Thursday, June 6.

PNG did not have the best of starts to their campaign for international glory having lost their opener to the West Indies by five wickets. The match began with PNG batting first and putting up a total of 136. It was Sese Bau who added 50 runs for the side with a 27-run supporting knock from Kiplin Doriga.

In the second half, PNG bowlers were unable to contain the West Indies’ attack as Roston Chase remained unbeaten on 42 to seal an easy win for the two-time winners. Assad Vala had the best bowling performance for PNG with figures of 2/28. They will now be looking to make a comeback into the group stage by beating Uganda in their next fixture.

Papua New Guinea will play their second T20 World Cup fixture against Uganda at the Providence Stadium on June 6.

Uganda also endured a poor start to their campaign with a 125-run loss to Afghanistan. Chasing a total of 183, none of Uganda’s batters were able to score more than 15 runs. They will have an opportunity to recover their campaign against PNG on Thursday.

Providence Stadium, Guyana, Pitch Report

The surface at the Providence Stadium in Guyana has been preferred by the bowlers over the years. With the average first innings score on the pitch being 128, the side opting to bowl first has been more dominant in the venue, and doing the same in the upcoming game could be the wiser choice. 

PNG vs UGA Probable Playing XIs

Papua New Guinea: 

Lega Siaka, Assad Vala (C), Tony Ura, Sese Bau, Kiplin Doriga, Charles Amini, Kabue Moria, Alei Neo, Sema Kamau, Chad Soper, John Kariko

Uganda: 

Ronak Patel, Robinson Obuya, Dinesh Nakrani, Roger Mukasa, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Fred Achelam (WK), Brian Masaba (C), Juma Miyagi, Cosmas Kyewuta, Bilal Hassan

PNG vs UGA Probable Best Players of the Match

Probable Best Batter of the Match: Roger Mukasa

Roger Mukasa of Uganda could be the best batter in the upcoming game against Papua New Guinea. With 308 runs in his last 10 matches, Mukasa has been in good form, and Uganda will aim to depend on his services in the upcoming game. 

Probable Best Bowler of the Match: Henry Ssenyondo

Uganda’s Henry Ssenyondo could be the best bowler in the upcoming clash against PNG. Ssenyondo has taken 20 wickets in his last 10 matches, and his spell could be crucial for Uganda if they are looking to register their first win of the tournament. 

Uganda to win the match

Scenario 1

PNG win the toss and opt to bowl first.

Power Play Score: 30-40

First Innings Score: 130-140

Uganda win the match

Scenario 2

Uganda win the toss and opt to bowl first.

Power Play Score: 30-40

First Innings Score: 125-135

Uganda win the match

In the spotlight - Sesse Bau and Roger Mukasa

Sese Bau, one of PNG's prolific batters, is fresh off a half-century against high-quality bowling of West Indies. Having lost the top three for 34 in that game, it was his knock that held the innings for PNG and dragged them to 136. He was comfortable driving Andre Russell down the ground, reverse-sweeping Akeal Hosein and skipping down the track to Gudakesh Motie. Bau, the fourth-highest run-scorer for PNG in T20Is with 941 runs in 45 innings, will be keen to carry forward this momentum into the second game as well.

Roger Mukasa is a solid right-handed top-order batter for Uganda. He has featured in 56 of Uganda's 92 T20Is and accumulated 1186 runs at a strike rate of 121.39. The 35-year old was also the second-highest T20I run-scorer in 2023 with 738 runs. He was dismissed for 0 against Afghanistan but scored an unbeaten 51 off 41 against Namibia in a warm-up game in Tarouba. His contribution at No.3 will be key for Uganda.

Thanks for the tag Parm.

May the best team win.

Cheers..

Uganda won the toss and opted to bowl.

Assad Vala - We were also looking to field, but we'll need to bat well now. We spoke about some areas where we can improve, we played some good cricketagainst a Test playing nation. One change for us

Brian Masaba - We will bowl. We played here previously, we know exactly what to do. We had a discussion, just need to bat well and not lose wickets in clusters. Two changes for us. 

Teams:

Papua New Guinea (Playing XI): Tony Ura, Assad Vala(c), Lega Siaka, Sese Bau, Hiri Hiri, Kiplin Doriga(w), Charles Amini, Norman Vanua, Alei Nao, Chad Soper, John Kariko

Uganda (Playing XI): Simon Ssesazi(w), Roger Mukasa, Robinson Obuya, Dinesh Nakrani, Riazat Ali Shah, Alpesh Ramjani, Kenneth Waiswa, Brian Masaba(c), Juma Miyagi, Cosmas Kyewuta, Frank Nsubuga

Another warm and sticky night with lots of humidity, and dew could be a factor, says. 73m square boundaries, and a 83m hit straight down the ground. Not very dissimilar to the pitch used in the Afghanistan-Uganda game, says Darren Ganga. Looks drier than the previous pitch, though. Batting will be the focus against slow bowlers, Ganga adds. Rotating strike, not consuming too many dots will be key, he reckons.