By Grace Joyce Kemigisa
Uganda national cricket female team, the Victoria Pearls claimed the Kenya Women’s T20I Quadrangular Series after defeating Kenya by six wickets.
The finals of the inaugural title was played at the GymKhana in Nairobi Kenya on the 21st December 2022.
Kenya won the toss and chose to bat first and only managed to set a target score of 80 runs in 18 overs all out.
In the second innings, Uganda continued to display great skill chasing the set score in 11 overs and only losing four wickets.
Uganda came into the finals as the stronger side with 5 wins and a loss from the group stages; the Pearls defeated Kenya and Qatar twice but failed to complete a double against Tanzania.
The team did not disappoint with bowlers as Evelyn Anyipo picked three wickets and Captain Consy Aweko claimed two causing the most trouble for the Kenyan side in the first innings.
For the second innings Proscovia Alako hit 30 runs, Immaculate Nakisuyi 18 and Stephanie Nampiina 14 to hand Uganda victory with 51 balls untouched.
Hosts Kenya finished the tournament after going down thrice against Uganda with the finals defeat counted.
For the losing side in the finals, Daisy Njoroge put 21 runs on the scoreboard that gave her side some hope but that was not enough to overcome the strong Ugandan side.
Uganda’s Janet Mbabazi was named the tournament MVP after she garnered 116 runs and picked nine wickets in the tournament.
The team couldn’t ask for a better Christmas gift than the win since it gave them ranking points on their T20I ladder.
The Kenya Women’s T20I Quadrangular Series attracted four nations and was played in a round ribbon format for 10 days.
The Quadrangular Series which had Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Qatar is intended to be an annual event to give women national teams playing time.
Photo credit: Uganda Cricket Association Media
