Game 3: Uganda W v Kenya W
- Kenya 107/8
- Uganda 108/2
- Uganda won by 8 wickets
Semifinal: Thursday, September 4
- Zimbabwe W v Uganda W
- Time: 10:30 a.m., EAT
The Victoria Pearls eased past their East African neighbours, Kenya, by eight wickets to book a semifinal date against Zimbabwe.
Uganda needed a win to be certain of their semifinal slot, and after Tanzania had secured top spot in the morning game, they had to get over the line against Kenya.
Uganda named an unchanged team from the team that defeated Rwanda. Janet Mbabazi won the toss and decided to bowl first. Consy Aweko got rid of the dangerous Quentoor Abel for nothing, and despite Esther Wachare (27) pressing ahead, Uganda kept picking wickets that derailed the Kenyans.
Vanessa Ooko (40) provided some metal in the middle order, which pushed the total to 107/8 in the 20 overs.
Uganda didn’t have to do much in the field but some great fielding allowed them to effect some run outs that stopped Kenya in their tracks.
In the run chase, Janet Mbabazi and Esther Iloku put on an opening stand of 53 before the former departed, but the Captain led from the front, bringing up her maiden T20i half century to carry her bat, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 61 balls
Rita Musamali (21 not out) offered support to lead Uganda to their second comprehensive eight-wicket victory.
The win means Uganda finishes in second place in Group B and they will face Zimbabwe who finished top of Group A.
Two years ago, both sides met in the final of the same Qualifier in Entebbe, which means one of them will miss a return to the Global Qualifier.
Tanzania will face off with hosts Namibia in the other semifinal. Tanzania was top in Group B and will face Namibia, who finished second in Group A.
Uganda will play in the morning against Zimbabwe at the main ground. Uganda defeated Zimbabwe in 2017 in Namibia to qualify for their first Global Qualifier, something that might have a psychological edge in the game.