Uganda no easy beats

 By PETER PUSAL

FORMER Papua New Guinea captain Rarua Dikana says Uganda will provide a stern challenge for the  Barramundis in today’s second Pool B match of the One-Day Cricket World Cup qualifiers.

Speaking from New Plymouth in New Zealand’s North Island, Dikana told The National that despite the huge morale-boosting victory over Kenya on Monday, the Barras coaching staff and players were under no illusions about the task ahead.

“We cannot afford to take Uganda lightly because they are a good side who play like Kenya. If we are complacent we’ll be in trouble,” Dikana, who is Cricket PNG’s national high performance manager, said. 

Uganda are ranked 22 in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ratings and have a healthy rivalry with PNG according to the 35-year-old all-rounder who retired from representing his country in 2012.

“We have a rivalry with the Ugandans. 

“We last played them in 2011 in a 60-over match and beat them – but it was close. There was only a few runs in it. We got 170 and bowled them out for 160 odd. 

“Since then we’ve played them in warm-up fixtures of tournaments and beaten them, so we are confident but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”

Uganda started their tournament off with a seven wicket loss to the Netherlands in Mt Maunganui on Monday.

The Ugandans scored 152 all out  in the 46.1 overs against the Dutch and had the total overhauled for the loss of three wickets in 30.1 overs at Bay oval.

Openers Roger Mukasa (44 runs) and Abram Mutyagaba (36 runs) were the mainstays of the line-up and need to be removed early before  setting themselves.

Dikana said PNG needed to be consistent and not drop in form especially after Monday’s effort.

“We have to be consistent and keep our good form. We mus play positive cricket and take our chances,” said the former bowling all-rounder.

Batsman Assad Vala, who was named player of the match against Kenya, and opener Lega Siaka both of whom scored centuries will retain their spots.

“Assad and Lega played really well. Lega gave us a great start and Assad finished things off against Kenya so we expect them to continue that form. Assad has been moved down to No.3 and it has been successful so far so good.”

Paceman Raymond Haoda Jr who was reprimanded by the match referee Jeff Crowe will play but has been cautioned after a clashing with Kenya’s Maurice Ouma on Monday. 

The Hebou sponsored Barramundis will most likely retain the same line-up that beat Kenya.

The other match today is a Pool A fixture between Nepal and Scotland. The United Arab Emirates beat Canada by 180 runs on Tuesday in the other Pool A match.

Barramundis: Tony Ura, Lega Siaka, Assad Vala, Chris Amini (c), Geraint Jones, Mahuru Dai, Jack Vare, Pipi Raho, Willie Gavera, Raymond Haoda Jr, CHarles Amini Jr.  

Points Table – Group A: UAE 4, Hong Kong 2, Scotland 0 Canada 0, Nepal 0. Group B – Namibia 2, PNG 2,  Netherlands 2 Kenya 0, Uganda 0.