Hussain’s brilliant performance earns West Indies a huge win over Uganda

West Indies put in a brilliant performance against Uganda in the second match of the 2024 T20 World Cup, defeating their opponents by 134 runs on Saturday evening.

The star of the night was undoubtedly Aqel Hussain, who led the West Indies bowling attack with career-best figures of 5-11, highlighting the fruits of his relentless hard work and preparation.

West Indies’ top players made a strong contribution as they won with a stunning score of 173-5. Johnson Charles led the way with a solid 44 while Andre Russell’s easy 30 off 17 balls, coupled with brilliant performances from Rovman Powell (23), Nicholas Pooran (22) and Sherfan Rutherford (22), set a challenging target for Uganda.

However, Uganda collapsed under the heavy bowling pressure from the West Indies and the team scored just 39 runs. Only Juma Miyagi reached double figures, remaining unbeaten on 13. Hosein’s fine performance was well supported by Alzarri Joseph (2-6), while Russell, Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd scored one run each.

“I think I need this”

Reflecting on his outstanding performance, Hussain attributed his success to his dedication and strategic planning. “I think I needed that. At the net and in the previous series, I felt good about the ball going out but I didn’t get the reward,” Hussain explained.

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“It takes a lot of hard work. When you’re successful, people study you and make plans. You have to always be one step ahead. For me, it’s just about trying to react to the field and make plans. Even if the ball goes both ways, if you don’t make a plan, there’s nothing you can do. So, it’s about planning everything out. I’m happy to pitch wherever the team needs me.”

Hussain’s no-nonsense approach and ability to adapt were evident as he easily dismantled the Ugandan batting line-up, showing why he is regarded as one of the world’s top bowlers.

We just want to improve teamwork

Meanwhile, West Indies captain Rovman Powell hailed his team’s performance as a marked improvement from their narrow five-wicket win in the opening match against Papua New Guinea on June 2.

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“We said we have to improve 10-15% every game. We were average last game, so we just want to improve as a team,” Powell said. “When you play at home, the pressure sometimes gets to you. So, the first game was a little rusty. We started out at 60%, now we’re at 70-80%, and from here on it’s going to be a lot tougher.”

Powell was particularly effusive in his praise of Hussain, highlighting his consistently good performances. “He’s been outstanding and that’s why he’s the third-ranked bowler in the world. He’s done it against Full Member nations as well and we hope he can do the same against teams that are new to international cricket.”

Looking ahead, Powell highlighted the challenges ahead but was confident in the team’s preparations. “We just have to keep playing good cricket. We’ve played some good cricket over the last 12 months or so. It’s going to be tougher but we understand the conditions and the cricket in the Caribbean isn’t going to be easy.”