- Uganda 192/3
- Malawi 75/6
Uganda won by 117 runs
Uganda safeguarded their Division One status on Thursday evening with a commanding 117-run win over Malawi at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.
The victory ensured the Cricket Cranes avoided relegation and booked a fifth-place playoff final spot against West Africa side Nigeria on Saturday.
Batting first after winning the toss, Uganda took control early. Sumeet Verma lit up the evening with a blistering 88 off 41 balls, peppered with eight sixes.
Raghav Dhawan anchored the innings with an unbeaten 50 from 48, while skipper Riazat Ali Shah added late firepower with 19 off 8 deliveries. Uganda piled on 192 for 3 in their 20 overs.
Malawi’s bowlers struggled to contain the assault. Sami Sohail went for 53 in three overs, while only Kelvin Thuchila stood out, conceding just eight runs and claiming a wicket in his tidy spell.
Chasing a mountain, Malawi never settled. Alpesh Ramjani spearheaded Uganda’s attack with 4 for 13, backed by Innocent Mwebaze and Dinesh Nakrani with a wicket apiece.
Frank Nsubuga tightened the noose further, giving away just 11 runs in four overs. Malawi limped to 75 for 6, with opener Aaftab Limdawala’s 22 the lone spark.
The emphatic result restored Uganda’s confidence after a shaky campaign that bowled with the two losses and consoled with a win. They now face Nigeria at the Takashinga Sports Club in Saturday’s playoff final, Nigeria who overcame Botswana in the other playoff semifinal.
Elsewhere, Namibia and Zimbabwe sealed Africa’s two tickets to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe confirmed their return to the global stage by beating East Africa side Kenya, while Namibia brushed aside another in Tanzania.
Both will contest Saturday October 4, ’s final at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, though their qualification is already assured.
