Despite signs of resurgence with the bat, Uganda’s Victoria Pearls suffered a second consecutive defeat in the 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament, falling to Rwanda by five wickets in a tense encounter at the Gahanga B Oval on Thursday morning.
Yet, amid the sting of loss, assistant coach Brian Masaba struck a defiant tone as he looked ahead to Friday’s crucial semifinal clash against Zimbabwe.
“It’s part of the process,” Masaba remarked after the game, reflecting on a performance that showed flashes of promise but ultimately came up short.
“We’ve been working on getting to 120, 130, a score we believe we can defend. Today, we did that with the bat, but our bowling and fielding let us down.”
Uganda posted a competitive 119/6, a clear improvement from their earlier outing. Immaculate Nakisuuyi played a composed anchor role with 44, while Rita Musamali added urgency with 36 off 29 deliveries.
However, Rwanda’s Henrietta Ishimwe, with a standout 3/23, ensured the Ugandans couldn’t fully capitalize in the death overs.
Rwanda’s chase, spearheaded by captain Marie Diane Bimenyimana’s steady 46 and sealed by Ishimwe’s unbeaten 33, exposed Uganda’s bowling vulnerabilities.
While Stephanie Nampiina picked up two wickets, Uganda’s attack failed to maintain pressure.
“We bowled both sides of the wicket and got punished. We took too long to adjust,” Masaba admitted, lamenting missed chances in the field and inconsistent execution with the ball. “A bad day in the office.”
Still, he remained focused on the bigger picture. With Uganda set to face Zimbabwe in the semifinals at the Gahanga Cricket Main Oval, Masaba emphasized the importance of mental recovery.
“It’s very tough on the girls,” he said. “They bounced back well with the bat, so to lose hurts. But we’ll spend the day lifting their spirits and making sure they’re ready for tomorrow.”
