Uganda’s cricket has been on ice for nearly two years. This is after the coronavirus pandemic struck the global calendar for the gentleman’s game.
Following postponements, Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) is now pretty busy with several national team activities for both men and women.
The senior national women’s team recently re-branded to the Victoria Pearls before departing for Botswana to compete at the ICC Africa Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier.
Following group stage action, the Pearls are within touching distance of proceeding to the global qualifier in the road to the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup set to be held in South Africa.
Uganda suffered an opening four-run loss to big rivals Namibia but the side recovered to win matches against Cameroon, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to book a last four spot.
The Pearls will now take on big wigs Zimbabwe in a crunch semi-final tie at the Gaborone Oval 1 on Friday.
“We’ve won three games on the bounce and obviously, we are confident,” said Uganda’s coach Suraj Karavadra.
There is a place in the final against the winner between Namibia and Tanzania at the Gaborone Oval 1 on Sunday and the champion will proceed to the Global T20 Qualifier.
“We’ll keep our approach the same, obviously our objectives will differ. The advantage we have is that Zimbabwe doesn’t like to play us, we’ve beat them in the past so. I probably think they are a bit more on the back foot.”
An exciting spin battle is expected in this encounter, even if Zimbabwean coach Adam Chifo’s camp is reporting injuries to Chipo-Mugeri Tiripano, captain Mary-Anne Musonda and Nomvelo Sibanda.
“The style of cricket we play is not always about fast bowling. I still believe we’ve got the best bowling department out of all the teams here,” said Karavadra. Spinner Consy Aweko in particular picked her second T20 international hat-trick (3/4) as Uganda won by 155 runs against Cameroon.
However, the tactician of Indian descent hopes that his batters can show up again; Stephannie Nampiina, Kevin Awino, Rita Musamali and captain Immaculate Nakisuyi. “Yes, we started with our batters not clicking but we’ve come well in the process,” he added.
ICC WOMEN’S T20WCAQ
FRIDAY - SEMIFINALS
10.15 am: Zimbabwe vs. Uganda
3.15 pm: Namibia vs. Tanzania
RESULTS
Sierra Leone 86/8 Uganda 87/1
Uganda won by 9 wickets
Uganda 104/8 Nigeria 61/10 (14.5 overs)
Uganda won by 43 runs (with 31 balls remaining)
Uganda 190/6 Cameroon 35/10
Uganda won by 155 runs (with 33 balls remaining)
Namibia 105/4 Uganda 101/7
Namibia won by 4 runs
TABLE STANDINGS - GROUP B
Team P W L N/R PTS NRR
Namibia 4 4 0 0 8 2.795
Uganda 4 3 1 0 6 3.030
Nigeria 4 2 2 0 4 -0.277
Sierra Leone 3 0 3 0 0 -2.256
Cameroon 3 0 3 0 0 -7.001
GROUP A
Team P W L N/R PTS NRR
Zimbabwe 4 4 0 0 8 4.901
Tanzania 4 3 1 0 6 6.191
Rwanda 4 3 1 0 6 3.289
Botswana 4 2 2 0 4 2.716
Mozambique 4 0 4 0 0 -8.184
Eswatini 4 0 4 0 0 -10.594
*N/R denotes No Result, PTS for Points & NRR for Net Run Rate
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