The 43-year-old off-spinner from Uganda was surely not expected to perform as he did in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Not only is he credited for having helped Uganda by ensuring that the country records its first ever World Cup victory, but he also made world cup history.
Nsubuja performed well with the ball during the match against Papua New Guinea. He had bowled four overs and he had conceded only 4 runs and he had got 2 wickets. And, he bowled two maiden overs and this signifies that the batsmen were unable to score any run against this particular over or was bowled out. This was the best bowling performance ever in the T20 World Cup because he rocked and did not allow many runs to be scored in his over.
The hero for Uganda was Kenneth Nsubuga bowler who ensured that they bowled out Papua New Guinea to a low score that Uganda could achieve to beat them and make history. He played a critical role for the least favoured nation throughout the tournament and hence a wholesale standout.
Uganda Clinches Historic Victory in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Uganda has emerged victorious in the first match against a Test-playing country in the Providence Stadium in Guyana in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is quite an achievement for the cricket team. In a Group C match against Papua New Guinea, Uganda bravely showcased courage and adeptness to clinch the win three wickets and be immortalised in the history of the sport.
Uganda having won the toss opted to bowl the first and this they showed dominance from the onset of the match. The Ugandan bowling proved to be undeniably great, especially with Frank Nsubuga leading the contingent and warranting only 77 runs by Papua New Guinea in 19 overs. 1 overs. Not only did Nsubuga demonstrate the longevity of his talent to perform at this level despite being 43 years of age; he fulfilled the role of breaking the record for the lowest total bowling by a player who bowled all his four overs in the Men’s T20 World Cup by conceding only four runs while dismissing two vital Indian wickets, the best trait that any captain would wish to have in his bowler.
Though they did not face serious threats on their way to the final, the Ugandan side was not entirely free from familiar hardships. When the Ugandan batting order geared up with the target of 78 runs to chase, they were uit early blows as five of their wickets went down in a space of 6. 3 overs. In this crisis period, the handy all-rounder Riazat Ali Shah became a rising star for Uganda. Born in Pakistan’s administered zone of Kashmir, Shah came down the batsmen and displayed absolute Mental Strength by playing a dazzling knock of 33 runs off 56 balls to lead his team to a momentous victory.
For Uganda this triumph is special since it was the first time they had beaten Papua New Guinea in any form of international cricket. This victory then came from the back of their bowlers especially Nsubuga who produced a magnificent economical bowling that kept Uganda in the game and ultimately won them the match. Nevertheless, the spinning controversy as a result of the slow pitch never threatened to stall Uganda as they united and knew that when it comes to baseball there is no secret to success but hard work and perseverance and the team confirmed this as they fought hard to chase the required target and grabbed a landmark victory.
The story of this match is a microcosm of cricket and as we said in the beginning cricket is a sport of its own kind and recognized in the world due to those moments when teams beat the odds and come out successful. It may feel like history is being repeated as they celebrate this win of a lifetime; as Uganda takes up its rightful place on the international map as a force to reckon with when it comes to cricket, a success that has been brought about by hard work and team work.
There is no denying that cricket, through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, has the power to change the world and bring happiness to billions of people around the globe like the Criss’ triumph in Uganda. They showed that through determination, hard work, commitment, unity and goal directed mindset one can make it and Ugan..
