Home Cricket Capricorn Eagles soar back to level series against Victoria Pearls

Capricorn Eagles soar back to level series against Victoria Pearls

by Jeremiah Mugalu
1 minutes read
  • Namibia-W 114/8 in 20 overs: (Wittmann Sune 54, Manuel Bianca 12)
  • Uganda-W 93/6 in 20 overs: (Nakisuuyi Immaculate 35, Musamali Rita 20)
  • Namibia-W won by 21 runs to level the series (2-2)

From the brink of a series defeat to standing tall with renewed confidence, the Capricorn Eagles of Namibia have staged an impressive comeback to level their six-match T20 series 2-2 against Uganda’s Victoria Pearls.

What started as a promising tour for the visitors has suddenly turned into a tightly contested battle, fueled by Namibia’s fearless approach with the bat and Uganda’s fading spark in the last two games.

The Victoria Pearls opened the series with intent and control, snatching two tight victories and taking a 2-0 lead.

Their fielding was sharp, their bowling measured, and their batting, led by the consistent Esther Iloku, proved just enough to edge out the hosts.

However, after those initial games, the Eagles found their wings and with them, the momentum.

In Game 3, Namibia flipped the script. Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Eagles wasted no time in launching an onslaught. Kayleen Green led the charge with a blistering 48, helping Namibia post a commanding 128 by far the highest total in the series up to that point. The aggressive intent from the top order appeared to catch Uganda off guard.

In reply, Uganda reshuffled their batting, promoting Kevin Awino to open. She held her end with a patient 28, but the rest of the lineup failed to fire.

Without support and struggling to rotate the strike, the Pearls ran out of steam, falling 24 runs short.

Star performer Esther Iloku, who had carried Uganda in the opening games, couldn’t find her rhythm, and suddenly, the tide began to shift.

Game 4 was no different in terms of Namibian dominance. This time, Sunne Whitman rode her luck and power-hitting ability to register a rapid-fire 54, again laying a solid foundation for a competitive total of 114. Uganda’s bowlers fought valiantly in the death overs to contain the hosts, but the damage had been done early.

With the bat, Uganda stumbled once again. Both openers fell cheaply and while Immaculate Nakisuyi briefly kept hopes alive, her dismissal left the visitors relying on a misfiring middle and lower order. The decision to drop Janet Mbabazi down the order didn’t pay off, and the Pearls were left 21 runs adrift.

Beyond the batting woes, fielding has emerged as a glaring concern for Uganda. A staggering 18 chances have gone begging, dropped catches, missed run-outs, and costly fumbles, mistakes that have come back to haunt them, particularly in the latest defeat.

Now, with the series delicately balanced at 2-2 and two more matches to play, the narrative has dramatically shifted. What once looked like a routine win for the Victoria Pearls is now a fierce contest with the Capricorn Eagles growing in belief and form with every game.

For Uganda, reorganizing is critical. The technical bench of Deus Muhumuza and Brian Masaba has tough questions to answer about strategy, selections, and execution.

Meanwhile, Namibia will look to ride their newfound momentum and complete what would be a memorable turnaround on home soil.

With two games to go, the stage is set for a tense finish. The Capricorn Eagles have found their voice. Now it’s up to the Victoria Pearls to respond.

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