Victoria Pearls miss opportunity in defeat to Scotland at Emerging Nations Cup

Game 1: Uganda W vs. Scotland W

• Scotland 115/9
• Uganda 100/6
• Scotland won by 15 runs

Uganda’s Victoria Pearls got close but didn’t have enough to get over the line, losing to the favourites Scotland by 15 runs in their opening game at the Emerging Nations Cup in Thailand.

The Victoria Pearls left out the young Irene Mutonyi to accommodate more slow bowling options on the slow wicket at the TerdThai Cricket Ground. Naume Amongin and Teddy Oyella are the other players to miss out.

Scotland won the toss and elected to bat but Consy Aweko struck in the second over of the game, followed by two quick strikes from Janet Mbabazi and Sarah Akiteng to leave the favourites reeling at 3/53 inside nine overs.

Darcey Carter (54 not out) and Megan McColl (32) put on a 40-run partnership that pushed the score along, and at 103/4 inside 15 overs, Scotland looked set for a big total.

However, the Victoria Pearls struck back in the final five overs to stem the flow of runs with some brilliant fielding that got them three run outs. Scotland only managed 12 runs to finish on a modest 115/9 in their 20 overs.

Janet Mbabazi (3/17) was the pick of the bowlers with Immaculate Nakisuyi (1/18), Consy Aweko (1/19) and Sarah Akiteng (1/29) offering support.

In the run chase, Janet Mbabazi fell cheaply, but Esther Iloku (24) and Immaculate Nakisuyi (36) put on a partnership of 64 as Uganda kept up with the required rate and with 35 runs required 30 balls with six wickets in hand, the game was still very balanced.

However, a very slow passage of play during which Uganda only managed 1 run off 18 balls derailed the run chase completely to leave Uganda short by 15 runs.

The Victoria Pearls missed an opportunity to claim a famous win against Scotland; they missed the window of opportunity in the last five overs, where they needed to be braver. The wicket of Immaculate Nakisuyi, the set batter at a key moment in the game, made things difficult for the new batters. Proscovia Alako and Stephanie Nampiina never made the required connections, and there was no getting out of jail for Rita Musamali, who usually finds ways to win games for Uganda out of nothing.

The bowling and fielding for Uganda were a great positive and something the team can build on but it’s the batting that is yet to back up the bowling to make sure they can have an all round game that will help them win against teams that are high up in ranking, but might not necessarily mean they are better than them.

There is no resting for Uganda, they have to regroup fast because they take on Namibia tomorrow afternoon at the same ground.