Emerging Nations Cup | Uganda W vs. Namibia W
- Namibia 83/8
- Uganda 71/7
- Namibia won by 12 runs
Uganda’s Victoria Pearls managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in their second game at the Emerging Nations Cup in Thailand.
The low-scoring thriller was dominated by Uganda until the final five overs, when Namibia smelt blood to tie a noose around Uganda and close out the contest by 12 runs.
Uganda fielded an unchanged team, Janet Mbabazi won the toss and elected to bowl first. Kevin Amuge removed the dangerous Sune Wittmann for nothing, and that wicket seized the initiative for Uganda with the ball.
The Victoria Pearls kept the pressure on the batters with some tidy bowling, dismissing Namibia under 100 for just 83/8 in their 20 overs.
Immaculate Nakisuyi (2/16), Malissa Ariokot (2/12), and Sarah Akiteng (2/10) among the wickets with Consy Aweko (1/25) and Amuge (1/11) picking a wicket each.
In the run chase, Esther Iloku departed early with Janet Mbabazi (15) and Immaculate Nakisuyi (17) chipping away at the small total but once both set batters departed, things fell apart for the Victoria Pearls run chase.
There was no other player who got into double digits, leaving a lot of work for the tail and with 20 runs required off the final six balls, the writing was on the wall for the Ugandans who eventually fell short by 12 runs.
The performance will leave a lot of bad taste in the mouth because, for the second game in a row, Uganda lost the match from a strong position. The good work done by the bowlers today was not backed up by the batters; anything under 100 should be an easy win for any side but Uganda batted like they have to come back tomorrow and in the end, only managed to back themselves into a corner.
Uganda has always struggled to bat themselves out of pressure situations and their slow approach in chasing down the small total worked in the favour of Namibia.
Photo by: Pankaj Nangia / CREIMAS
A second loss for Uganda, who will have to win their remaining games to have a chance of finishing among the top four teams.
Uganda will take on PNG in their next game after the rest day.