ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, 2025
- Namibia- W: 83/8 in 20 Overs (Kaylen Green 21, Yasmeen Khan 19; Sarah Akiteng 2/10, Malisa Ariokot 2/12, Immaculate Nakisuuyi 2/16)
- Uganda-W: 71/7 in 20 Overs (Nakisuuyi 17, Janet Mbabazi 15; Leigh Marie Visser 3/10, Mekelaye Mwatile 2/8)
Nambia won by 12 runs
Uganda’s Victoria Pearls were left stunned in Bangkok on Friday after Namibia held their nerve to claim a tight 12 run win in a tense, low scoring match at the ICC Emerging Women’s Nations Trophy.
Uganda controlled large stretches with the ball, but the chase slipped away through missed chances, mounting pressure, and Namibia’s stubborn discipline.
Winning the toss at the Terdthai Cricket Ground, Uganda started perfectly. Their bowlers executed the plan with precision, dismantling Namibia’s top order early.
Sarah Akiteng led with a sharp 2 for 10, while Immaculate Nakisuuyi (2/16) and Malisa Ariokot (2/12) kept the scoring tight and struck at crucial moments.
Namibia were rattled when captain Sune Wittmann fell for a duck in the second over. But Kayleen Green’s steady 21 off 37 and Yasmeen Khan’s 19 helped rebuild.
With the innings wobbling again, Naomi Benjamin’s calm, unbeaten 18 off 17 in the final overs proved decisive, pushing Namibia to a modest but defendable 83 for 8.
What seemed like a comfortable chase quickly turned difficult for Uganda. The early dismissal of Esther Iloku for four gave Namibia control.
Captain Janet Mbabazi fought hard for her 15 off 37, and Nakisuuyi tried to lift the tempo with 17 off 27, but the scoreboard pressure kept tightening.
Leigh-Marie Visser delivered the spell of the match with an excellent 3 for 10, while Mekelaye Mwatile added 2 for 8 as Uganda’s middle order collapsed.
Between overs 13 and 17, the Pearls lost five wickets for only 14 runs, a collapse that swung the game completely.
Kevin Awino (5*) and Concy Aweko (2*) tried to steady things at the end, but the task was too steep. Uganda finished on 71 for 7, falling 12 runs short.
Victoria Pearls Captain Janet Mbabazi came out and praised her bowling unit saying;
“Tough lack, the bowling group did a good job but we weren’t able to keep up with the batting”
“The wicket was abit slow like we saw in the morning game but we got to go back look through it all and see where we can do better” she concluded
The defeat offers Uganda valuable lessons as they take a rest day on Saturday before facing Papua New Guinea early on Sunday at 5:30 am (EAT).
