In the T20 World Cup in Tarouba, New Zealand scored a comfortable but heartbreaking nine wicket victory over tiny Uganda thanks to a masterful display. Uganda collapsed for just 40 in 18.4 overs, missing the lowest total in the T20 World Cup by just one run, thanks to the devastating efforts of left-arm pacer Trent Boult (2/7) and experienced fast Tim Southee (3/4). In the competition, the gap between them and the leading countries has been rather obvious.
The Kiwis’ first victory of the competition was thereafter fueled by opener Devon Conway (22 not out off 15 4x4s), as they managed to reach the mark in 5.2 overs.
For the first time in a decade, New Zealand did not make it to the semifinals after losing their opening two matches against Afghanistan and the host West Indies.
Uganda, who were making their debut in the competition, saw their batters continue to struggle, while the Kiwis showed their strength. With three defeats and a victory at the end of the campaign, the African team has not gone above 80 runs.
During the powerplay, New Zealand made the most of the ball’s enormous swing, giving up just 9/3.
With two strikes in the opening over, Boult established the tone for the game.
On the third delivery of the innings, he flicked the ball away from an unsuspecting Simon Ssesazi to trap him leg before wicket.
The very next ball, Boult knocked over Robinson Obuya’s stumps. Alpesh Ramjani, however, stopped the 34-year-old from scoring a hat-trick by negotiating an outswinging yorker.
When Southee trapped Ramjani in front of the wickets in the fourth over, he claimed to have taken Uganda’s third wicket.
As spinners Mitchell Santner (2/8), Rachin Ravindra (2/9) and pacer Lockie Ferguson (1/9) came in on the action, Uganda’s wickets kept falling.
In the 18th over, Southee came back to take two more wickets, catching Juma Miyagi leg before wicket and Fred Achelam on successive deliveries. However, he too was denied a hattrick, much like Boult.
The only batter from Uganda to achieve double digits was Kenneth Waiswa (11).
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