Matches Summary:
Namibia: 73/9 (20 overs) | Uganda: 74/6 (19.3 overs)
Rwanda: 100/8 (20 overs) | USA: 86/10 (19.2 overs)
East African neighbours Uganda and Rwanda started their 2026 Victoria Series campaign with victories over Namibia and the USA, respectively, at the Entebbe Cricket Oval.
In the morning encounter, defending champions and hosts, the Victoria Pearls, had to dig deep to defeat Namibia by four wickets in a low-scoring Friday game.
Player of the Match Rita Musamali scored an unbeaten 42 to guide Uganda to victory on Friday morning. Her crucial innings earned her the Player of the Match award and secured two points for Uganda, leaving Namibia empty-handed.
“All we needed was to be patient on the wicket, and I am happy that I managed to step up and guide my team to victory,” Musamali said. “Going forward, we should approach every game as a final, and I promise to emulate today’s efforts.”
Head Coach Deus Muhumuza was not entirely pleased with the second innings, noting that the primary positive was seeing one of his top-four batters bat through, show maturity, and stick to the team plan.
“There are no free runs; you’ve got to work for them,” Muhumuza stated. “Of course, playing in front of a home crowd on home ground brings some pressure, and players might be timid at times. But that is something they signed up for, and we believe they will overcome it to ensure our success.”
After lunch, Rwanda batted first, setting a target of 100 runs. Player of the Match Alice Ikuzwe scored 16 runs and took three wickets for 14 runs to guide her side to a 14-run victory over the USA.
Rwanda’s batting depth and tight bowling secured a boost of confidence ahead of their Saturday afternoon clash against Uganda.
