Monday, March 11
South Africa 122/4
Uganda 72/10
South Africa won by 50 runs
The Victoria Pearls hopes of winning gold at the ongoing African Games in Ghana crashed after their humiliating 50-run loss to South Africa in the semifinals on Monday.
Having elected to field first, the Victoria Pearls conceded 122 runs which was the second most conceded at these Games after Kenya’s 142 against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Team captain Consy Aweko picked up two wickets to take her tally in Women’s T20is to 101 wickets, however, her milestone was blemished by the devastating loss.
All Ugandan bowlers including the skipper conceded in double digits, with Rita Musamali’s 17 off 2 Overs resulting in the day’s worst economy- 8.50.
Given Uganda’s inefficacy in batting, chasing that total against South Africa was always going to be daunting. It didn’t prove otherwise.
As soon as the second innings commenced, Uganda were a wicket down. Immaculate Nakisuyi who smashed a half century against Rwanda in the Victoria Pearls’ last group game on Sunday was the victim.
She was ducked in the 0.4 Over. South Africa’s next wicket (Gloria Obukor 12) arrived in the eighth Over, but it came with two more. Janet Mbabazi and Stephanie Nampiina were both ducked in that same Over.
Esther Iloku (19) kept the board ticking, but when she got dismissed in the 11th Over- South Africa’s fifth wicket-, only Phionah Kulume managed to tally double digits (12).
In the end, Uganda were able to respond with only 72 while losing all their wickets, and leaving 9 balls unused.
It is not all doom and gloom though for the Victoria Pearls. They still have a chance to return home with a medal. They will face off against Nigeria in the bronze medal match on Wednesday.
South Africa on the hand will contest the final against Zimbabwe- who beat Nigeria by 5 wickets in the other semifinal- for gold.
