Stephanie Nampiina believes Uganda’s good start with the bat gave the Victoria Pearls the confidence and freedom to complete their first round of the 2026 Victoria T20 Series round robin unbeaten after comfortably beating USA Women by seven wickets at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe on Sunday.
Nampiina top-scored with 37 runs as Uganda chased down USA’s 93 for 7, reaching 94 for 3 in 15.1 overs with 27 balls to spare. The victory was another statement of Uganda’s growing confidence in the tournament, while USA’s search for a first win continued.
For Nampiina, the difference was not just the runs on the board but how Uganda approached the chase. The hosts got off to a good start, allowing the middle order to play with less pressure when Rita Musamali joined her at the crease.
“I think today we had a good game, had a very good start, and that kept us going. So it made everything easier,” Nampiina said.
“By the time Musamali came, we were already doing well. So you only had to get singles and run harder.”
It was a composed performance from the all-rounder, who made the most of an early reprieve to anchor the chase before Musamali took charge towards the end.
The foundation for Uganda’s victory, however, had been laid by the bowlers, who made life difficult for the American batters from the opening overs.
USA won the toss and elected to bat, making two changes to the side that had lost to Namibia a day earlier. Maahi Madhavan and Lekha Shetty returned to the team in place of Geetika Kodali and Jivana Aras as part of a fast-bowling rotation policy for back-to-back matches. Pooja Ganesh remained unavailable because of an unspecified injury sustained during Friday’s defeat to Rwanda, according to the team management.
USA’s innings never really got going. Chetna Pagydyala was trapped leg before wicket for two in the third over by Malisa Ariokot, marking the third consecutive match in which she had fallen to an lbw decision. Unlike the earlier dismissals against Rwanda and Namibia, there was little room for argument this time as she missed a straight delivery that struck her in front of middle stump.
Isani Vaghela survived a missed run-out opportunity in the fourth over, but USA lost another wicket soon afterwards. Sainavi Kambalapalli, who had earlier driven Ariokot for four over mid-on, attempted the shot again only to be bowled for 13 in the fifth over, leaving USA at 20 for 2.
Ella Claridge briefly lifted the innings with a boundary and a three through the cover region, helping USA reach 28 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. But Sarah Walaza ended her stay on the first ball of the seventh over, beating her with a straight delivery that knocked back her off stump.
The visitors’ best partnership came through Vaghela and Nikhar Doshi, who added 28 runs from 32 balls for the fourth wicket.
Vaghela struck USA’s final boundary in the eighth over, driving Immaculate Nakisuuyi over mid-off. She then enjoyed two more lives, first being dropped by Walaza at long-on off Janet Mbabazi when she was on 13, before Asumin Akurut failed to hold a swirling skier off her own bowling with Vaghela on 16.
But Uganda eventually got their reward in the 12th over. Vaghela miscued a knee-high full toss from Akurut, sending the ball high towards midwicket, where Musamali took the catch. She departed for 21 with USA struggling at 56 for 4.
The wickets continued to fall. Doshi was run out for 17 in the 14th over after attempting a quick single against Akurut. A sharp relay following Ritu Singh’s attempted tap-and-run left her three yards short of her ground.
Akurut struck again in the following over, dismissing Gargi Bhogle for four after the batter charged down the pitch and missed, allowing Musamali to complete the stumping. USA were now 67 for 6.
Captain Aditi Chudasama survived a chance at slip on her second delivery and joined Singh in trying to give the innings some respectability. The pair added 26 runs for the seventh wicket, but Uganda’s bowlers kept the scoring under control.
USA failed to find a boundary during the partnership and managed only two singles against Ariokot in the 19th over. Chudasama was eventually run out for 16 on the final ball of the innings after a swing and miss left her slow to respond when Singh set off for a bye. Singh finished unbeaten on 10 from 15 deliveries.
Ariokot was outstanding with the ball, taking two wickets for 14 runs, including a maiden, while Akurut also claimed two wickets for 18 runs from her four overs. Walaza picked up the other wicket, finishing with one for 16 from three overs.
Uganda’s response was not without an early scare. Nampiina survived a strong leg-before-wicket appeal against Madhavan in the third over when she was on four. Replays later suggested the delivery had struck her in front of middle stump, below the knee roll.
The reprieve proved costly for USA as Nampiina settled into her innings and kept Uganda moving towards the target.
Kambalapalli eventually gave USA something to celebrate in the seventh over, dismissing Uganda captain Janet Mbabazi for 14. Mbabazi attempted a cut but sliced the ball into the air, where Vaghela dived forward at backward point to complete the catch. Uganda were 35 for 1.
Proscovia Alako came in and immediately looked positive, driving firmly over mid-off for four. Uganda added 12 runs in the eighth over, including one of two occasions when the batters ran three.
However, Alako’s stay ended on the final ball of the ninth over when she skied a heave towards long-on. Singh charged in and produced an excellent diving catch to leave Uganda at 50 for 2.
That was the opening USA needed, but their fielding lapses soon returned.
Rita Musamali joined Nampiina and began to push the hosts closer to victory. In the 12th over, she first found the boundary before tapping a delivery from Lekha Shetty towards mid-off and running hard.
Singh attempted a throw at the non-striker’s end, but it went astray and was not backed up, allowing Uganda to collect three additional runs through overthrows.
Musamali then punished Madhavan with two more fours on the leg side in the 15th over, taking Uganda to 92 for 2 and leaving the hosts just one shot away from victory.
Nampiina tried to finish the job herself in the 16th over, but her lofted drive off Chopra failed to clear Vaghela in the ring. She departed for a well-made 37, having done the hard work at the top of the order.
There was little time for USA to celebrate. Esther Iloku came in and finished the contest with the very next delivery, flicking Chopra through square leg for two. Musamali remained unbeaten on 27 from 18 balls.
Kambalapalli was USA’s leading bowler once again, taking two wickets for 18 runs in four overs, while Chopra finished with one for four from 1.2 overs. Chudasama conceded 18 runs without a wicket in two overs, while Madhavan was the most expensive, giving away 26 runs in four overs.
Mbabazi happy with improved approach
For Uganda captain Janet Mbabazi, the victory was a satisfying way to close the opening round, particularly after the team had worked on an area that had troubled them in previous matches.
“We are excited, happy that we’re able to finish the first round of the game with a win,” Mbabazi said.
She admitted that she would have liked to contribute more with the bat but explained that the plan was to score during the powerplay without losing too many wickets.
“I’m not sure I got enough runs, but I think that the plan was to try and get a few runs in the powerplay, but also to just maintain the wicket column, something that we’ve been failing at, especially at the top of the order. We’ve lost quite many wickets in the powerplay as a team. So I think the plan today worked very well for us,” she said.
Mbabazi also appreciated the support the team has received during the tournament, particularly the presence of some of Uganda’s top players in the stands.
The captain believes such support gives the players an added lift and confidence as they represent the country on home soil.
“As a team, we appreciate every support that comes, and to have our top players out there supporting, it is a good confidence booster for us,” she added.
USA seek answers after another defeat
For USA captain Aditi Chudasama, there was little to celebrate after another difficult afternoon. Her side has now lost all three first-round matches and will need to find answers before the second round begins.
Chudasama admitted that the manner of Sunday’s defeat was painful but remained hopeful that the team could regroup during Monday’s rest day.
“I think we just need to regroup and go over some of the things that we’ve been lacking. Obviously, it hasn’t been easy to lose the way we did today, but hopefully we can take that rest day and come back stronger,” she said.
Despite the results, she was encouraged by the youngsters who have stepped up during the tournament, singling out Sainavi Kambalapalli, Tara and Nikki for praise.
“I think the youngsters have been doing a really good job of putting their hands up. So, Sainavi’s been bowling great and so has Tara. She’s done outstanding. Nikki has come in the last two games, and she’s shown what she can do. So hopefully we can just put everything together,” Chudasama said.
The captain said the team would use Monday to take their minds off cricket before returning to work on the areas that need improvement.
Namibia discover winning touch
In the other match of the day, Namibia mastered their art after the matchday one loss to Uganda. They recorded their second victory of the tournament with a 39-run win over Rwanda.
Kayleen Green led the way with 39 runs after opening the batting as Namibia posted 98 for 8. She then turned up with the ball, taking three wickets for 10 runs in two overs to help bowl Rwanda out for 59.
All teams will have Monday off before the Victoria T20 Series resumes on Tuesday with the second round of the double round-robin competition.
USA will face Rwanda in the morning fixture as they seek their first victory, while Uganda take on Namibia in the afternoon in a contest that could have a significant bearing on the battle for first place.
For the Victoria Pearls, the rest day will be an opportunity to enjoy some time away from the pressure of competition before turning their attention to Namibia.
Mbabazi is already looking forward to the break.
“Finally, tomorrow, rest day, we’re going to relax, interact with our friends, grab a few coffees, have a good time and just reset,” she said.