Friday, March 8
Uganda 72/10
Zimbabwe 74/6
Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets
The Victoria Pearls suffered a frustrating defeat in their second game at the African Games after their 4-wicket loss to Zimbabwe in their Group B game on Friday at Achimota Complex in Ghana.
The Ugandans who were asked to bat first displayed a poor batting show in the first innings, and managed to generate just 72/10.
Zimbabwe who lost by 6 runs to Uganda just ten days ago in both sides’ tour of India didn’t go ballistic with the wicket taking in the first half of the innings, but they limited Uganda to just 36 runs in that period.
Despite dismissing Gloria Obukor- one of the opening pair in the third Over, and then going five Overs without a wicket, the Lady Chevrons were happy to register dot balls.
Lawrence Ssematimba’s girls and the Uganda’s fans alike were made to endure a wearisome evening as the team’s half century arrived only in the 14th Over.
The wicket of Immaculate Nakisuyi- the other half of the opening pair- that fell in 13th Over was especially costly to Ugandans.
After Nakisuyi who ended up being the top scorer of the team with 17 off 40 falling, Rita Musamali, the winner of the first game against Kenya on Thursday, restored some hope to the camp.
However, Josephine Nakai’s return to the attack blew away the Ugandans in the tail end. The eventual Player of the Match picked up two wickets that included Stephanie Nampiina and Kevin Awino in the 17th Over.
Musamali’s 13 not out, lugged the Victoria Pearls to the eventual score of 72. However, with the quality of the opposition, this was an easy chase for Zimbabwe. So everyone thought. No, it wasn’t.
While Uganda’s first wicket arrived in the 10th Over in form of Sharne Mary Mayers (19) caught and bowled by Janet Mbabazi, Zimbabwe had it rough.
Musamali with two in the 11th and 17th Overs, and Nakisuyi in the 12th and 14th Overs followed suit and declared game on.
The 17th Over ended with the Lady Chevrons needing 16 off 18. Nakisuyi conceded 6 in the subsequent Over, and Mbabazi whose bowling card was reading 11 conceded in the her first 3 Overs was tasked to bowl the 19th.
The penultimate Over is usually regarded as the most crucial Over in cricket. Mbabazi picked a wicket, however gave out 5 runs.
Uganda nonetheless were still in the game; Zimbabwe at this point, needed 4 off 6. But this is where the Victoria Pearls lost the game from.
Consy Aweko, the captain of the team trusted herself to handle this Over. Aweko, if not the best bowler of the team is one of the best, but her first two deliveries were wides. That took the equation to 2 needed off 6.
While she hang on, with three dot balls, Loreen Tsuma who faced her first ball in the 18.6 Over hit the skipper for a boundary.
Zimbabwe were able to snatch victory with that boundary with 2 balls to spare.
The result dropped Uganda to third. They will now need to beat Rwanda on Saturday and hope Zimbabwe beat Kenya for them to progress to the semi finals.
