Thursday, September 9
Namibia 105/4
Uganda 101/7 (20 ov)
*Namibia win by 4 runs
Uganda lost to Namibia by 4 runs in their opening game of the 2021 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Gabarone, Botswana.
Captain Immaculate Nakisuyi’s 36 runs off 31 balls proved not enough as Uganda choked in their pursuit of 106.
After winning the toss, Uganda sent in Namibia to bat first and they got off to a perfect start when the opponents lost their openers for just one run.
But Namibia recovered from 1/2 to 100/4 thanks to Kayleen Green’s unbeaten half century as the side set Uganda a target of 106.
Irene Alupo, Consylate Numungu, Stephanie Nampiina and Evelyn Anyipo picked a wicket each to limit Namibia within reach.
Rachael Ntono lost her stand in the first delivery of the second over to leave Uganda reeling but Nakisuyi’s 36 and Esther Iloku’s 22 revived the chase.
And it went down to the wire as Uganda needed 14 runs in the last over.
Wilka Mwatile bowled Namibia’s last over; she was beaten for four midway the over by Stephanie Nampiina but she ran her out in the next delivery as Namibia held their nerves and squeezed through by the skin of their teeth.
Next for Saraj Kuravadra’s Victoria Pearls is a tie against Cameroon on Friday before Nigeria and Sierra Leone on Saturday and Tuesday consecutively.
The top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the semi-finals, before the two finalists compete for the lone qualification spot to the Global Qualifier 2022, on September 19.
Uganda will also look to improve their ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings – The team is ranked 18th.
Uganda’s fall of wickets: 1-2 (Racheal Ntono, 1.1 ov), 2-13 (Rita Musamali, 6.1 ov), 3-38 (Prosscovia Alako, 10.3 ov), 4-77 (Immaculate Nakisuuyi, 16.6 ov), 5-87 (Esther Iloku, 18.1 ov), 6-91 (Janet Mbabazi, 18.6 ov), 7-100 (Stephani Nampiina, 19.4 ov)
