West Indies Vs Uganda, T20 World Cup Highlights: Five-Star Hosein Guides Windies To Humongous 144-Run Win

Welcome to the highlights of our coverage of match 18 of ICC T20 World Cup 2024, played between West Indies and Uganda at the Providence Stadium in Guyana (West Indies) on Sunday, June 9. The clash saw West Indies routing Uganda by a crushing 144-run margin. Brian Masaba's men slumped to a 39-run total in response to the Windies target of 174 runs. The 39-run score is the joint-lowest in T20 World Cup history. Akeal Hosein was the wrecker-in-chief for West Indies, returning magical figures of 5-11 in four overs. Catch the highlights of the WI vs UGA match at T20 WC 2024, right here. (Match Report | Scorecard)

West Indies: Rovman Powell (c), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.

Uganda: Brian Masaba (c), Simon Ssesazi, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Dinesh Nakrani, Fred Achelam, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Bilal Hassun, Robinson Obuya, Riazat Ali Shah, Juma Miyaji, Ronak Pate.

Uganda are playing their third match of the tournament and with one win (over Papua New Guinea) and one loss (against Afghanistan), face a must-win scenario today. As for West Indies, a win in the opener against PNG means Rovman Powell's side comes into this game without the worries of elimination hanging over their heads just yet.

The Providence Stadium in Guyana is likely to dish up another slow surface, which could make run-scoring difficult. Only twice has the 140-run mark been crossed here in four matches, which indicates the tricky nature of the pitch.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell has won the toss and decided to bat first.

Playing XIs

West Indies: Johnson Charles, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell (C), Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph.

Uganda:  Simon Ssesazi (WK), Roger Mukasa, Robinson Obuya, Riazat Ali Shah, Alpesh Ramjani, Dinesh Nakrani, Kenneth Waiswa, Brian Masaba (C), Juma Miyagi, Cosmas Kyewuta, Frank Nsubuga.

Rovman Powell: "Looks like a typical Guyana wicket - low and slow. Hopefully we can put some runs on the board and defend it. It's still a wicket where you got to play good cricket shots. 110-120 is not defendable. Once we improve in all three departments, we should be good. Last few days we did some training and resting."

Brian Masaba: "Probably would have batted first as well. It's a bit difficult to chase. It's what we have got. We have to bowl well. Historic moment for us (win against PNG). It's back to business for us. Just try to get the boys to focus again. We'll try to come out here and give our best, make sure we get our processes right and try to put West Indies under pressure. It's about reminding the guys what they've done well in the past as a batting unit. Just making sure they keep it nice and simple. Focus on the ball again. If we can do that, we can get a decent score."

As has been in the case for Uganda in their first two matches, left-arm spinner Alpesh Ramjani opens the bowling. Brandon King and Johnson Charles face him. And there is grip straight away, as the third ball of the innings beats Charles and 'keeper Simon Ssesazi both, and runs away to the fine leg boundary.

Turn and grip in the first over notwithstanding, West Indies openers Brandon King and Johnson Charles have made a strong start to the innings. Taking a liking to Juma Miyagi, they smash 15 runs off his first over (third of the innings) to push the score up to 25 for no loss after three overs.

Alpesh Ramjani returns to clean up Brandon King, but new batter Nicholas Pooran is taking no prisoners. The aggressive southpaw clobbers two sixes early in his essay, to make his intentions clear as day.

Uganda skipper Brian Masaba catches dangerman Nicholas Pooran off his own bowling to leave West Indies two down, but the flow of runs continues. At the halfway mark in the innings, West Indies are at 85 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Dinesh Nakrani strikes in his first over, and the big fish at that. The well-set Johnson Charles has to walk back without a half-century to his name, out for 44 off 42 balls. Nevertheless, Windies skipper Rovman Powell is putting his foot firmly on the gas pedal. Exciting few overs ahead.

Uganda strike again at an opportune moment. Their captain Brian Masaba gets rid of his counterpart Rovman Powell (23 off 18). But that brings the big-hitting Andre Russell to the crease, and the all-rounder is off the blocks quickly. Will we see a blitzkrieg at the death? Stay tuned to find out.

Andre Russell (30 not out off 17 balls) banks on his years of experience to expertly tackle Cosmas Kyewuta's wide yorkers in the final. The West Indies all-rounder finds the off-side fence four times in the last over to power his team to an imposing 173-run total. Can Uganda mount a challenge with the run chase? Stay with us to find out on the other side.

West Indies begin their defence of the 174-run target clinically, as left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein traps Roger Mukasa in front for a second-ball duck. A wicket and a four in the first over, as Uganda embark on the onerous task of trying to chase down the formidable total.

The ruthless bowling display from the co-hosts continues. Uganda's batters are expectedly having a tough time and in trying to force the pace, are perishing. Romario Shepherd and Andre Russell join Akeal Hosein - who picks up another scalp - in the wickets column as Uganda are reduced to 19 for four after 4 overs.

Akeal Hosein bags his maiden T20I fifer, finishing with glorious figures of 11-5 in four overs. Uganda are now eight down inside eight overs, with just 25 runs on the board. The lowest score at T20 World Cups is 39 by Netherlands against Sri Lanka (2014), and is in danger of being breached today.

And that's that. Alzarri Joseph cleans up Frank Nsubuga, and West Indies bowl out Uganda for just 39 runs to win the match by a whopping 144 runs. Uganda's total is the joint-lowest at men's T20 World Cups, and the victory is Windies' sixth consecutive one.

Akeal Hosein is the Player of the Match for his splendid five-wicket haul. Here is what he had to say after the match: 

"I think I needed this. In the nets and in the previous series, I felt the ball was coming out good but I was just not getting the rewards. (On which one was his favourite wicket) I think the regular off-spinner (to dismiss Nakrani), that was my favourite. (On his approach) I think it is a lot of hard work. When you get success, guys are going to study you and have a plan. You always have to stay a step ahead. For me, it is just about trying to react to what the surface is doing and planning it out. Even if the ball is going both ways, you cannot do much if you don't plan. So, it is about planning the over well. I am happy to bowl wherever the team needs me."

Brian Masaba: "Tough day for us. It is a very steep learning curve. Just shows the difference in class. We were outplayed (in all departments) but we must take the learnings from it: as a batting unit, what we can do better to keep us in the game. There were some positives in that bowling performance. To keep them under 200 stood out. The way we bowled at the death, that was very impressive from the two young men (Kyewuta and Miyagi). Hopefully we can build on that. (Experience so far at the T20 World Cup) It is a huge challenge, but something we are enjoying. We understand that to get better, we need to play oppositions like these and over time, we can hopefully reduce the gap. Good lessons to carry back home. They (the fans) love this team, they have stuck with this team through thick and thin. They are a passionate bunch and we are very proud of them. We definitely enjoy having them around."

Rovman Powell: "We talk about improving 10-15% every match. Last game, we were flat so we just wanted to improve as a team. When you are playing at home, the pressure can sometimes get to you. So, a little bit of rust (in the first match). We started off at 60%, now up to 70-80% and from here, it gets tougher. He (Akeal Hosein) has been fantastic, that is why he is the No.3 ranked bowler in the world. He has done it against Full-Member nations as well, and we expect him to do it against teams that are just coming into international cricket. (On the challenges ahead) It is just for us to continue to play good cricket. We have played good cricket for the last 12 months or so. It gets tougher from here but we understand conditions and cricket is not easy in the Caribbean. Since West Indies have come to Guyana, the support has been fantastic."