Africa T20 Championship: Naomi Kayondo Explains Loss To Namibia

Monday, May 6
Namibia – 115/6
Uganda – 101/9 (20 ov)
*Namibia win by 14 runs

Uganda’s race to defend the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional qualifiers took a wrong turn after the side lost their first game of the ongoing championship in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The Lady Cricket Cranes lost to Namibia by 14 runs in a game that provided a scintillating finish.

After winning the opener against Sierra Leone by 90 runs on Sunday, every thing was going on plan, including winning the toss on Monday which Kevin Awino chose to bat last.

Despite strong efforts from Immaculate Nakisuyi (two wickets), Sarah Wakaza (two wickets) and Franklyn Najjumba (one wicket), Namibia squeezed through the first innings with 115/6.

Naomi Kayondo in action. Zimbabwe Cricket photo

However, the Cranes chocked in the chase before getting eliminated all out with 101 runs.

“The game was a tough one, like Captain Awino said earlier, every game was going to be like a final and indeed this was like one,” said Lady batter Naomi Kayondo.

“We lost it in the first innings. We did not field very well, we dropped a couple of catches, we had a couple of misfield and they ended up posting 115.

“We also didnt do well with the bat. The top order left a big chunk for the tail end which I think was a big ask for them so it had to go south for us.”

Naomi scored 18 runs with a boundary, Rachel Ntono had 16 runs off 23 balls, Musamali and Stephanie Nampiina had 17 and 25 respectively.

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (D Busingye, 1.2 ov), 2-30 (NK Bagenda, 6.6 ov), 3-40 (F Najjumba, 8.3 ov), 4-49 (R Ntono, 9.2 ov), 5-54 (I Nakisuuyi, 11.1 ov), 6-54 (J Mbabazi, 11.3 ov), 7-92 (R Musamali, 17.2 ov), 8-95 (S Nampiina, 18.3 ov), 9-99 (K Awino, 19.3 ov).

Uganda failed with the bat. Zimbabwe cricket photo

Uganda, second in group B below Namibia will then turn focus to Kenya, their last group game on Wednesday.

“We have to beat Kenya so bad that we level our net run rate and may be that will help us later in calculations and hope for the best thereafter.”

The winner of the tournament earns two tickets to both the 2019 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier and the 2020 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament

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