The State of Play
Papua New Guinea and Uganda might enter their contest at Guyana’s Providence Stadium on Thursday with contrasting levels of confidence despite both sustaining defeats in their opening matches of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Uganda suffered at the hands of Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who put on the second-highest partnership for an opening wicket in the history of the tournament with 154 as part of their team’s 125 wins.
Uganda captain Brian Masaba, who took four wickets, was greatly encouraged by his side’s ability to restrict Afghanistan late on, making them the first team not to record a single boundary in the closing six overs of a match at the finals.
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“In T20, very often the game can go very quickly in the last five overs,” Masaba said. “Especially considering the fact that we were under the pump for most of the innings.
“So to come back like that and restrict them the way we did is a huge bonus for us. We’ll look to carry that into our games going forward.”
Uganda’s next opponents gave two-time champions the West Indies a scare, with Sese Bau scoring 50 off 43 deliveries and 20-year-old John Kariko impressing with the ball.
Masaba Brian’s breakthrough ended the 154-run opening partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz for Afghanistan 🇦🇫 to secure Uganda’s first wicket at the #T20WorldCup in the 14.3 Over.
Well bowled skipper 👏#WeAreCricketCranes pic.twitter.com/Ki0wMwNBIY
— Uganda Cricket Association (@CricketUganda) June 4, 2024
The West Indies are considered contenders for the title and might have expected a comfortable win after being set a target of 136, only to labour to 97-5.
Papua New Guinea retained hope until the 18th over, helped by 27 off 18 balls from Kiplin Doriga.
“Sese Bau batted really well,” said captain Assad Vala. “And John Kariko, the left-arm spinner, bowled really well. Alei [Nao] was upfront with the new ball. There was a lot of stuff that we did really well.
“There are a lot of positives to take. The overall performance was really good, but there were just the key moments when we couldn’t put the nail in the coffin.
“The effort was outstanding. We kept fighting against a really good side. I’m really happy.”
A brilliant fifty 🔥
Sese Bau starts the #T20WorldCup with a @MyIndusIndBank Milestone.#WIvPNG pic.twitter.com/fmzv3tdfcG
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 2, 2024
Expected line-ups
Papua New Guinea: Siaka, Vala (c), Ura, Bau, Doriga (wk), Amini, Moria, Neo, Kamau, Soper, Kariko
Uganda: Masaba (c), Obuya, Ramjani, Mukasa, Waiswa, Miyagi, Hassan, Achelam (wk), Kyewuta, Ssenyondo, Nakrani
How to watch
Sky have the rights to show the T20 World Cup to UK viewers in 2024 and will broadcast every game live. Coverage gets underway on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Action from midnight BST.
In India, the games can be streamed on Disney + Hotstar app and website. They are also available across the Star Sports Network.
Prediction
Despite not getting their full rewards, Papua New Guinea’s start felt like a statement of intent and the manner of their defeat should make Vala’s side all the more determined to take their first win.
Opening three batsmen Vala, Tony Ura and Lega Siaka were dismissed for a paltry combined 24, and an improved top-order showing could produce a comfortable victory for PNG.
