- Namibia W 116/8 in 20 Overs
- USA W 108/9 in 20 Overs
- Namibia W won by 8 runs
Namibia found the response they needed after Friday’s defeat to Uganda, holding their nerve to beat USA Women by eight runs and register their first victory at the 2026 Victoria Series at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe on Saturday morning.
After coming up short against the defending champions in their opening match, Namibia returned with renewed determination, posting 116 for eight before restricting USA to 108 for nine in a tense finish.
It was a victory built on patience with the bat and a match-winning bowling display from Arrasta Diergaardt, who claimed five wickets to earn the Player of the Match award.
USA won the toss, opted to field, and Namibia captain Suné Wittmann set the tone with a composed unbeaten 44 off 44 balls, striking three boundaries to give her side something to defend.
She received support from Merzerly Gorases, who made 12 off 10 deliveries, and Mekelaye Mwatile, who contributed 22 from 27 balls. The pair helped Namibia settle into their innings before Gorases fell at 26 in the fourth over.
Mekelaye and Wittmann kept the scoreboard moving, taking the total to 74 before Mekelaye was dismissed in the 13th over. Wittmann followed at 85 in the 15th over, with Arrasta falling for a duck in the same over.
Kayleen Ann Green had earlier managed five off 10 balls, while Wilka Mwatile added a valuable 20 from 18 deliveries, including a six.
Sylvia Shihepo chipped in with seven before Edelle Van Zyl was dismissed without scoring. Naomi Benjamin remained unbeaten on two as Namibia closed their 20 overs on 116 for eight.
USA’s Sainavi Kambalapalli was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 16 runs in four overs. Aditiba Indrajitsinh Chudasama claimed two for 22, while Jivana Aras and Taranum Chopra took one wicket each.
Geetika Kodali conceded just seven runs in her two overs, while Ritu Priya Singh returned figures of 21 runs from four overs without a wicket.
USA needed 117 to win, but Namibia made sure the chase was never straightforward.
Kambalapalli tried to keep her side in the contest with 33 off 45 balls, while Chetna Reddy Pagydyala contributed 16 from 21 deliveries. Nikhar Doshi added 19 off 18 balls, including two boundaries, as USA attempted to stay within reach of the target.
However, Namibia kept finding ways to break the partnerships.
Pagydyala was the first to go at 24 in the sixth over before Isani Mahesh Vaghela was dismissed for seven. Sylvia Shihepo then struck again, removing Ella Caterina Claridge for a first-ball duck as USA slipped to 35 for three.
Doshi and Kambalapalli offered some resistance, but their departures at 68 and 87 respectively left USA with too much to do.
Diergaardt proved the biggest obstacle to the chase. She removed Doshi, Gargi Bhogle, Chudasama, Chopra and Pagydyala to finish with remarkable figures of five for 21 in four overs.
Victoria Hamunyela also contributed with one wicket for 19 runs, while Sylvia took two for 17 in her two overs.
Wilka Mwatile and Eveleen Kejarukua bowled economically, conceding 18 and 15 runs respectively from their four overs, while Mekelaye Mwatile gave away 16 runs in two overs.
USA continued to lose wickets at important moments, with Ritu Priya Singh run out for 12, while Taranum fell without scoring. Chudasama made seven before becoming Diergaardt’s fifth victim in the final over.
Jivana Aras remained unbeaten on five, but USA finished on 108 for nine, falling eight runs short.
For Diergaardt, the performance was a personal reward after a difficult start to the tournament. Her five-wicket haul gave Namibia the breakthrough they needed and helped turn their first victory into reality.
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, she expressed her excitement and credited her motivation, confidence and preparation for the performance.
“Very excited. I’m highly motivated. It made me come back, and I just had to trust my skills and preparation,” she said.
The win gives Namibia a timely boost as they look to build momentum in the competition after losing to Uganda on the opening day.
They will return to action against Rwanda on Sunday, November 8, while the USA will face hosts Uganda later in the afternoon at the same venue.
The afternoon match will see hosts Uganda’s Victoria Pearls take on Rwanda Women in the East Africa derby.