World Cup aspirants begin 2027 journey in Uganda Challenge League B
Six teams on the road to Cricket World Cup 2027 begin Challenge League cycle in Uganda.
By Daniel Beswick
Cricket World Cup Challenge League action has resumed in Uganda with the six teams in League B beginning their campaign.
Having watched the League A half of the competition begin in September, Uganda, Singapore, Italy, Hong Kong, Bahrain and Tanzania will play five matches each across Kampala and Entebbe.
The matches form part of the 15 one-day matches for each team across three competition legs, with the winner and runner-up of League A and League B groups progressing to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off. Matches at the Challenge League are classed as List A fixtures.
Uganda v Singapore | Match Highlights | ICC CWC Challenge League B
It was the hosts who claimed opening day points in the sole match on day one, brushing aside Singapore in a stroll by the water of Lake Victoria.
Despite losing the toss and watching Singpore negotiate the first 10 overs without loss, the Cricket Cranes found their groove with the ball through left-arm medium pacer Dinesh Nakrani, honing in on the stumps with five bowled dismissals and an lbw in an effort of 6/20 from his 9.4 overs.
From 46/0, Singapore crumbled to be bowled out for just 82 in 38.4 overs, with Nakrani supported by left-arm spinners Alpesh Ramjani and Henry Ssenyondo, with youngster Juma Miyagi picking up 2/20.
Outside of the early stumble in the form of a Raghan Dhawan dismissal (0), Uganda were in little trouble during the chase, with Kenneth Waiswa's 26* and Riazat Ali Shah's 24* steering the hosts home in the 18th over.
Promoted to the Challenge League via the Play-off tournament in Malaysia earlier this year, Bahrain and Tanzania begin their journey in the Challenge League proper on Thursday. The Tanzanians face Italy, whose performance at the Play-off was enough to keep their Challenge League privileges, after a bottom two finish in the 2019-2022 Challenge League cycle.
Having captained and coached the Italian team concurrently, Gareth Berg has stepped away from playing obligations, with Marcus Campopiano leading inside the ropes.
Italy beat Vanuatu by two wickets.
A tough Hong Kong meeting awaits Bahrain first-up, though their head-turning Play-off campaign points to a strong showing in their first appearance in the competition.
Haider Ali Butt and Ahmer Bin Nasir form the engine room of the Bahraini batting effort, while Rizwan Butt is the team's fast bowling spearhead entrusted with the new ball.
All 90 matches across both leagues will be live and free on ICC.tv.
Tanzania beat Bahrain by 20 runs.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Challenge League Groups
League A: Denmark, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, Qatar
League B: Bahrain, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda