In an electrifying start to their campaign at the All African Games, the Victoria Pearls registered a six-wicket win over Kenya Women in a nail-biting encounter.
The match, which saw Kenya opting to bat first after winning the toss, was marked by a delayed start due to a wet outfield, resulting in a reduced game of 17 overs per side. Despite opener Melvin Khagoitsa’s resilient knock of 23 runs, Kenya struggled to build a substantial total and could only muster 63/8 at the end of their innings.
Uganda’s slow bowlers proved to be instrumental in restricting Kenya’s scoring, with Immaculate Nakisuyi leading the charge with impressive figures of 2/17 from her allotted four overs. Consy Aweko and Lorna Anyait provided valuable support to Nakisuyi, ensuring Kenya faced an uphill battle.
In their chase, Uganda faced early setbacks with the dismissals of Immaculate Nakisuyi and Esther Iloku via run-outs. However, Gloria Obukor’s resilient innings of 29 runs steadied the ship, anchoring Uganda’s pursuit of the target.
The match came down to the wire, with Uganda requiring five runs off the final over to secure victory. Rita Musamali rose to the occasion, capitalizing on a full toss from Flavia Athieno to guide Uganda to a memorable win with just one ball to spare.
Immaculate Nakisuyi’s stellar performance with the ball, coupled with a crucial direct-hit run-out, earned her the Player of the Match award, highlighting her impact on the game.
