Tuesday, February 27
Uganda 145/6
Zimbabwe 139/8
Uganda won by 6 runs
Gloria Obukor and her captain Consy Aweko were the stars of the show as the Victoria Pearls beat Zimbabwe by 6 runs on Tuesday to secure their first win in India.
Obukor who was left out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Regional Qualifiers team in December last featured for the Pearls against Hongkong at the Capricorn Series last year in Namibia, but on her return to the team, she inspired her side as they edged the Lady Chevrons.
The 23-year-old opened the batting alongside Immaculate Nakisuyi, and wasted no time in making her team’s intensions clear.
Kudzai Chigora opened the bowling for Zimbabwe, but after conceding 14 runs in that Over, Zimbabwe captain Mary Anne Musonda withdrew the opener from the attack, replacing her with Michelle Mavunga. That change didn’t help at all as Obukor welcomed Mavunga with four boundaries.
Obukor went on to score three more fours and by the time she was bowled in the 12th Over, she had hit a half century off 37 balls.
Zimbabwe, with that dismissal lessened their burden, but Esther Iloku who came on in the fifth Over for dismissed Nakisuyi was determined to hand her team a defendable score. Iloku posted 32 off 37 as Uganda set 145/6.
Zimbabwe edged Uganda by 2 runs on Sunday. When their chase started, it looked like they were headed for another win, and this time, an unlabored one.
Opening bowler Evelyn Anyipo was hit three fours and a maximum as the Lady Chevrons started their chase with 19 runs in the first Over.
Janet Mbabazi and Sarah Walaza combined to dismiss Sharne Meyers, but while it was a welcome wicket, Zimbabwe had the advantage.
Inside power play, Zimbabwe were counting 61/1, but that advantage swung the Ugandan way when the captain introduced herself into the attack in the eighth Over.
Chiyedza Dhururu became the skipper’s first victim after she got caught by Kevin Awino.
In the tenth Over off Aweko’s bowling, Zimbabwe all-rounder and their game’s top scorer Kelis Ndhlovu (39) was run out. The skipper then clean bowled her opposite number, Musonda in the 12th Over.
Aweko returned to bowl the penultimate Over that had her concede 4 runs, which took the overall runs she conceded to only 9. With an economy of 2.25 and two wickets, Aweko had the best bowling figures on the pitch.
Both Uganda and Zimbabwe are in India for a training camp as both teams prepare for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers due in Dubai in April.
The two sides are placed in Group A and B respectively, with Uganda sharing the group with Scotland, Thailand, United States and Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe is pitted against Ireland, Netherlands, Vanuatu and the hosts United Arab Emirates.
