Qatar stamped their supremacy over Uganda and sealed the three-match Twnety20 International Series, winning the second game by 28 runs at the Asian Town Stadium.
Opener Kamran Khan scored 68 in 52 balls to be adjudged Player of the Match and raised hopes of a second successive clean-sweep for the hosts. Last year, Qatar had handed a 3-0 whitewash to visitors Jersey.
Strong and cold winds made batting somewhat difficult and the wicket was also not very easy to bat on. Defying the odds, Khan lifted Qatar to a good score of 154 for four. Uganda failed to come up with a matching reply and could only manage 126 for seven in their chase.
Khan and fellow opener Zaheeruddeen Ibrahim took Qatar to a steady 74 before the latter was dismissed for 17 in 24 balls. Six runs before the hosts could touch three figures, Khan got run out just when he threatened to cut loose. He blasted four sixes and five boundaries in his knock.
Mohamed Tanveer used his experience to plug one end and added 46 runs for the third wicket with newcomer Imal Liyanage, who cracked two sixes and a four in 22. Tanveer finished unbeaten on 29 with three boundaries. Charles Waiswa, Frank Akankwasa and Trevor Bukenya shared three wickets.
Uganda were restricted by good line and length of the Qatari bowlers. An early wicket loss hampered them further – Mohamed Awais Malik bowling Zephania Arinaitwe (eight) at 10 in fourth over.
The fourth-wicket stand worth 43 runs between Kenneth Waiswa and Dusededit Muhumuza made the defeat look a bit respectable. Roger Mukasa hit two sixes in 24 off 38 balls, Arnold Otwani chipped in with 25, which included three fours and Waisa top-scored with 39. His 23-ball innings had two sixes and three boundaries.
Malik had two for 17, Mohamed Nadeem picked two for 30 and Qatar skipper Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry grabbed two wickets for 28.
Qatar Cricket Association President Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari was the chief guest at the match and gave away the Player of the Match Award to Khan.
BRIEF SCORES: Qatar 154 for four (Kamran Khan 68 in 52 balls, Mohamed Tanveer 29 not out in 22 balls, Imal Liyanage 22 in 16 balls; Charles Waiswa 1 for 36, Frank Akankwasa 1 for 37, Trevor Bukenya 1 for 41) beat Uganda 126 for seven (Roger Mukasa 24 in 38 balls, Arnold Otwani 25 in 18 balls, Kenneth Waiswa 39 in 23 balls; Mohamed Awais Malik 2 for 17, Mohamed Nadeem 2 for 30, Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry 2 for 28) by 28 runs. Player of the Match: Kamran Khan (Qatar)
Series: Qatar lead 2-0 in three-match series
Qatar Cricket Association President Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari presents the Player of the Match Award to Qatar’s Kamran Khan.
