- Botswana 101/7 in 20 Overs
- Uganda 105/5 in 9.3 Overs
- Uganda won by 5 wickets
Joseph Baguma found the perfect line and Botswana had no answer as Uganda’s Cricket Cranes continued their unbeaten run in the ILT20 Continental Cup 2026 after beating Botswana by five wickets in just 9.3 overs at Gahanga Oval B on Thursday.
Baguma was at the heart of Uganda’s victory, producing a disciplined four-over spell that yielded three wickets for just 14 runs to earn the Player of the Match award.
“I think today, I really tried to bowl nice and straight, not giving width, keeping every ball in the stumps,” Baguma said after the match.
It was a straightforward plan but one that put Botswana under pressure from the start.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Botswana managed 101 for seven in their 20 overs. Valentine Mbazo top scored with 31 off 32 balls, but Baguma’s intervention ensured the hosts never built enough momentum. He dismissed Phemelo Silas for 14, Thatayaone Tshose for 10 and Dhruv Maisuria for one.
Juma Miyagi chipped in with two wickets for 16 runs, while Matthew Musinguzi and Riazat Ali Shah claimed one apiece.
With only 102 required, Uganda’s chase was never in serious danger, although they lost Mirza Anas Baig for two off the second ball.
Robinson Obuya settled the nerves with a blistering unbeaten 51 off 28 balls, smashing six fours and three sixes. Charles Musemeza added 15 before Gerald Olipa St Monroux accelerated the chase with 24 off just 10 balls, including three sixes.
Riazat made six and Kenneth Waiswa fell for a duck before Cyrus Kakuru finished the job unbeaten on four. Uganda reached 105 for five in 9.3 overs to secure their second win in as many matches.
Riazat praised the bowlers for sticking to the plan but admitted the early wickets in the chase were a warning the team must heed.
“There was more discipline in ball wicket to wicket the way we planned and it was an easy target for us to chase 102 and the way Robinson Obuya batted, it was good to see him from him.”
Asked whether Uganda had been intent on finishing the chase quickly, Riazat said the team wanted to remain positive while keeping wickets intact.
“No, we lost three wickets early in the bag, but we don’t want to see them in next games and especially batting, the way we were batting, we were more positive, but we want to keep wickets in our hand.”
Uganda remain unbeaten after two matches, while Botswana are still searching for their first victory.
The Cricket Cranes return on Friday morning against hosts Rwanda at Gahanga Oval B.