Cricket: Scotland see off Uganda

SCOTLAND bounced back from their defeat to Namibia yesterday to beat Uganda by 34 runs in an ICC World Twenty20 qualifier in Dubai.

Calum MacLeod top-scored for the Scots with 45 off just 34 balls, a total which included two fours and two sixes. Gordon Goudie made a swashbuckling 26 off 10 balls, hitting three sixes in his short but eventful stay at the crease, while captain Kyle Coetzer managed a run-a-ball 19.

Jonathan Sebanja took Coetzer’s wicket, along with those of Goudie and Fraser Watts to finish with figures of three for 29 from his four overs as Scotland posted a total of 170 for six.

Uganda made a promising start to their reply and reached 44 before Arthur Kyobe was the first man out to Goudie for 22, however Frank Nsubuga’s dismissal, at 60 for two, was the first of seven wickets which fell for the addition of just 35 runs.

The Africans staggered to 95 for eight, as Preston Mommsen (three for 33) came to the fore. Deusdedit Muhumuza stemmed the bleeding with 23 off 16 balls before he became the ninth and last man out to Majid Haq, who finished with figures of three for 18 as Uganda reached 136 for nine from their 20 overs.

The winners of the qualifying tournament in the United Arab Emirates go into Group A of the World Twenty20 finals in Sri Lanka alongside Australia and West Indies, while the runners-up go into Group B alongside England and India. The tournament will begin on September 18, with the final to be played on October 7.