Cricket is a game of surprises, heart-pounding moments, and unforgettable performances. On June 8, 2024, the Guyana National Stadium in Providence witnessed a thrilling encounter between the West Indies Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, a spirited underdog making waves in their debut T20 World Cup. The match, part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, was a classic David vs Goliath battle, and the scorecard tells a story of dominance, resilience, and lessons learned. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting 18th match of Group C, breaking down the action in a way that’s easy for anyone to follow, whether you’re a cricket newbie or a seasoned fan.

Table of Contents

Setting the Stage

The West Indies, known for their explosive batting and fiery bowling, came into the match as favorites. Playing on home soil, they were eager to improve on their performance from their previous game, where they felt they were a bit “flat,” as their captain Rovman Powell later admitted. Uganda, on the other hand, was riding high after a historic win against Papua New Guinea earlier in the tournament. For the Cranes, as Uganda’s team is nicknamed, this was a chance to test themselves against one of cricket’s giants. The stage was set for a clash that showcased the beauty of international cricket—where experience meets ambition.

The match was played under the lights at Guyana National Stadium, a venue known for its bowler-friendly conditions. The West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that would set the tone for the game. Let’s break down the action, starting with the West Indies’ batting effort, followed by Uganda’s chase, and then a full scorecard to tie it all together.

West Indies’ Batting: Building a Towering Total

The West Indies’ batting lineup is a fearsome one, packed with power-hitters like Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran, and Andre Russell. Their goal was clear: set a challenging total to put Uganda’s inexperienced bowling attack under pressure. They got off to a steady start, but Uganda’s bowlers weren’t about to make it easy.

Early Wickets and a Solid Foundation

Brandon King opened the innings alongside Johnson Charles, and the duo looked to take the attack to Uganda’s bowlers. However, Alpesh Ramjani, Uganda’s left-arm spinner, struck early, dismissing King for 13 runs off 8 balls in the 4.3rd over. King tried to nudge a short delivery on the leg side but was rushed by the pace, and the ball crashed into his stumps. The West Indies were 41 for 1, and Uganda’s fans on the grass banks erupted in celebration.

Johnson Charles, known for his aggressive strokeplay, took charge, building a partnership with Nicholas Pooran, the team’s wicketkeeper and a dangerous left-hander. Pooran smashed three sixes in his quickfire 22 off 17 balls, but Uganda’s captain Brian Masaba had other plans. In the 9.2nd over, Masaba bowled a quick, short delivery that Pooran mistimed, sending a top edge back to the bowler for a simple catch. The West Indies were now 76 for 2, and Uganda sensed an opportunity.

Charles continued to anchor the innings, scoring a steady 44 off 42 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. His knock was crucial in keeping the scoreboard ticking, but Dinesh Nakrani, Uganda’s medium-pacer, ended his stay in the 12.4th over. Charles miscued a low full toss to long-on, where Ramjani took a diving catch. At 105 for 3, the West Indies were still in control, but Uganda’s bowlers were fighting hard.

Middle Overs and Late Fireworks

Captain Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford kept the momentum going. Powell scored 23 off 18 balls, including a four and a six, before Masaba struck again in the 15.3rd over, with Robinson Obuya taking a fine catch at cover. Rutherford, playing a more measured knock, made 22 off 16 balls before Cosmas Kyewuta delivered a perfect yorker in the 17.3rd over to bowl him out. That delivery was a highlight for Uganda, showcasing their ability to compete even against a strong side.

With wickets falling, Andre Russell stepped up to provide the late fireworks West Indies fans love. Unbeaten on 30 off 17 balls, Russell smashed six boundaries, showing why he’s one of the most feared finishers in T20 cricket. Romario Shepherd chipped in with an unbeaten 5 off 5, and together they pushed the West Indies to a formidable 173 for 5 in their 20 overs. Extras, including 5 wides, 3 no-balls, 5 byes, and 1 leg-bye, added 14 runs to the total.

Uganda’s bowlers deserves credit for keeping the West Indies under 200—a positive sign, as Masaba noted after the match. Brian Masaba led the way with 2 wickets for 31 runs in his 4 overs, while Ramjani, Nakrani, and Kyewuta each took one wicket. Despite the pressure, Uganda’s bowlers showed discipline, especially in the death overs, where they restricted the West Indies’ scoring.

Uganda’s Chase: A Tough Day at the Office

Chasing 174 was always going to be a daunting task for Uganda, whose batting lineup lacked the depth and experience of their opponents. The West Indies’ bowling attack, led by the world-class spinner Akeal Hosein, was ready to exploit that inexperience, and what followed was a masterclass in T20 bowling.

Akeal Hosein’s Dream Spell

Akeal Hosein set the tone from the very first over. On just his second ball, he trapped Roger Mukasa lbw for a duck. Mukasa considered a review but ran out of time, and Uganda were 0 for 1 in 0.2 overs. The tone was set. In the 1.3rd over, Romario Shepherd dismissed Simon Ssesazi for 4, with Alzarri Joseph taking an easy catch at mid-on. Uganda were reeling at 8 for 2.

Hosein wasn’t done. In the 2.6th over, he struck again, dismissing Alpesh Ramjani lbw for 5. The ball, a classic arm-ball, skidded through and hit Ramjani plumb in front. Robinson Obuya followed in the 3.1st over, bowled by Andre Russell for 6, as the ball beat his outside edge and crashed into the off stump. At 15 for 4, Uganda were in deep trouble.

Hosein’s spell was nothing short of magical. He dismissed Riazat Ali Shah (3) and Dinesh Nakrani (0) in quick succession, both bowled by his deadly arm-ball. In the 6.5th over, he claimed his fifth wicket, trapping Kenneth Waiswa lbw for 1. Hosein’s figures of 4 overs, 0 maidens, 11 runs, and 5 wickets were a career-best in T20Is, earning him the Player of the Match award. His ability to use the angle and swing, combined with pinpoint accuracy, left Uganda’s batters clueless.

Uganda’s Collapse

With half their side back in the pavilion inside five overs, Uganda’s hopes rested on captain Brian Masaba and Juma Miyagi. Masaba fell for 1 in the 7.4th over, caught behind off Alzarri Joseph’s sharp bouncer. Cosmas Kyewuta (1) and Frank Nsubuga (0) couldn’t stem the tide, falling to Gudakesh Motie and Joseph, respectively. Miyagi, the lone bright spot, remained unbeaten on 13 off 20 balls, showing some resilience, but it wasn’t enough.

Uganda were bowled out for 39 in 12 overs, equaling the joint-lowest total in Men’s T20 World Cup history. The West Indies’ bowlers were relentless: Alzarri Joseph took 2 for 6, Motie 1 for 6, Russell 1 for 4, and Shepherd 1 for 9. The 134-run victory was the second-largest by runs in T20 World Cup history, a testament to the West Indies’ dominance.

The West Indies Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard : A Snapshot of the Match

Below is the detailed West Indies Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, presented in an easy-to-read table format for clarity.

West Indies Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard T20 World Cup 2024 Match 18

Match Details

Date: June 8, 2024
Venue: Guyana National Stadium, Providence
Toss: West Indies won and elected to bat
Result: West Indies won by 134 runs
Player of the Match: Akeal Hosein (West Indies) – 5/11 in 4 overs
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SL), Rashid Riaz (PAK)
TV Umpire: Adrian Holdstock (SA)
Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

West Indies Innings (20 overs)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Brandon King	b Alpesh Ramjani	13	8	2	0	162.50
Johnson Charles	c Alpesh Ramjani b Dinesh Nakrani	44	42	4	2	104.76
Nicholas Pooran (wk)	c & b Brian Masaba	22	17	0	3	129.41
Rovman Powell (c)	c Robinson Obuya b Brian Masaba	23	18	1	1	127.78
Sherfane Rutherford	b Cosmas Kyewuta	22	16	2	1	137.50
Andre Russell	not out	30	17	6	0	176.47
Romario Shepherd	not out	5	5	0	0	100.00
Extras	(lb 1, w 5, nb 3, b 5)	14
Total	173/5 in 20 overs (8.65 runs per over)

Did not bat: Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph

Fall of Wickets:

41/1 (Brandon King, 4.3 overs)
76/2 (Nicholas Pooran, 9.2 overs)
105/3 (Johnson Charles, 12.4 overs)
125/4 (Rovman Powell, 15.3 overs)
140/5 (Sherfane Rutherford, 17.3 overs)

Uganda Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Extras
Alpesh Ramjani	3	16	1	5.33	0nb, 0w
Cosmas Kyewuta	4	42	1	10.50	1nb, 2w
Juma Miyagi	3	29	0	9.67	1nb, 0w
Frank Nsubuga	3	29	0	9.67	1nb, 0w
Brian Masaba	4	31	2	7.75	0nb, 2w
Dinesh Nakrani	3	20	1	6.67	0nb, 0w

Uganda Innings (12 overs, Target: 174)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Roger Mukasa	lbw b Akeal Hosein	0	2	0	0	0.00
Simon Ssesazi (wk)	c Alzarri Joseph b Romario Shepherd	4	3	1	0	133.33
Robinson Obuya	b Andre Russell	6	8	1	0	75.00
Alpesh Ramjani	lbw b Akeal Hosein	5	6	1	0	83.33
Kenneth Waiswa	lbw b Akeal Hosein	1	10	0	0	10.00
Riazat Ali Shah	b Akeal Hosein	3	8	0	0	37.50
Dinesh Nakrani	b Akeal Hosein	0	2	0	0	0.00
Brian Masaba (c)	c Nicholas Pooran b Alzarri Joseph	1	4	0	0	25.00
Juma Miyagi	not out	13	20	0	0	65.00
Cosmas Kyewuta	lbw b Gudakesh Motie	1	6	0	0	16.67
Frank Nsubuga	b Alzarri Joseph	0	3	0	0	0.00
Extras	(lb 3, w 2)	5
Total	39/10 in 12 overs (3.25 runs per over)

Fall of Wickets:

0/1 (Roger Mukasa, 0.2 overs)
8/2 (Simon Ssesazi, 1.3 overs)
15/3 (Alpesh Ramjani, 2.6 overs)
15/4 (Robinson Obuya, 3.1 overs)
19/5 (Riazat Ali Shah, 4.4 overs)
22/6 (Dinesh Nakrani, 6.1 overs)
23/7 (Kenneth Waiswa, 6.5 overs)
25/8 (Brian Masaba, 7.4 overs)
34/9 (Cosmas Kyewuta, 10.6 overs)
39/10 (Frank Nsubuga, 11.6 overs)

West Indies Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Extras
Akeal Hosein	4	11	5	2.75	0nb, 0w
Romario Shepherd	2	9	1	4.50	0nb, 0w
Andre Russell	1	4	1	4.00	0nb, 1w
Alzarri Joseph	3	6	2	2.00	0nb, 1w
Gudakesh Motie	2	6	1	3.00	0nb, 0w

Reflections from the Captains and Player of the Match

After the match, West Indies captain Rovman Powell was pleased with his team’s improvement. “We talk about improving 10-15% every match,” he said. “Last game, we were flat, so we just wanted to improve as a team.” He praised Akeal Hosein’s stellar performance, noting that the spinner’s stump-to-stump bowling was key to dismantling Uganda’s batting. Powell also thanked the Guyana crowd for their fantastic support, which he said made a big difference.

Uganda’s captain Brian Masaba was candid about the defeat. “It was a tough day for us. It just shows the difference in class. We were outplayed in all departments,” he admitted. However, he highlighted positives, such as their bowlers keeping the West Indies under 200 and the passionate support from Uganda’s fans. “To get better, we need to play oppositions like these,” Masaba added, emphasizing the learning curve for his young team.

Akeal Hosein, named Player of the Match, was thrilled with his performance. “I needed this,” he said. “The ball was coming out nicely, but I wasn’t getting the rewards in previous series.” He singled out his dismissal of Dinesh Nakrani with a regular off-spinner as his favorite wicket, showcasing his ability to mix up his deliveries. Hosein’s performance was a reminder of why he’s ranked among the top T20 bowlers in the world.

What This Match Meant

For the West Indies, the 134-run victory was a statement of intent. It was their second win in the tournament, boosting their confidence as they prepared to face tougher opponents. The match showcased their depth, with contributions from both their batsmen and bowlers. Akeal Hosein’s five-wicket haul was the standout, but the likes of Russell, Joseph, and Shepherd showed why the West Indies are a force to be reckoned with.

For Uganda, the match was a harsh lesson in the realities of top-tier T20 cricket. Their batting collapse highlighted the gap between Associate nations and Full Member teams, but there were silver linings. Their bowlers, particularly Masaba and Kyewuta, showed promise, and Juma Miyagi’s unbeaten 13 was a small but significant show of grit. As Masaba noted, playing against teams like the West Indies is essential for Uganda to grow and close the gap.

Why This Match Matters to Fans

This game was more than just a West Indies Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard—it was a celebration of cricket’s global reach. For fans of all ages, it was a chance to see the West Indies’ flair and Uganda’s courage on the same stage. The match reminded us that cricket is a sport where giants can dominate, but underdogs can inspire. Whether you’re a kid watching your first game or a grandparent who’s seen decades of cricket, this clash had something for everyone: big hits, brilliant bowling, and a story of two teams at different points in their journeys.

Setting the Stage