ENTEBBE, Uganda, July 21– Namibia continued their impressive form in the ongoing Pearl of Africa Cricket T20 Series, defeating Nigeria by eight wickets on Saturday to maintain their perfect record.
Playing on Saturday, Namibia – who opened the tournament with a win against hosts Uganda – delivered another dominant performance.
After Nigeria won the toss and opted to bat, they struggled to build momentum, posting a modest total of 114/10 in 20 overs.
Namibia chased down the target with ease, reaching 115/2 in just 15.2 overs. Nigeria’s captain Sylvester Okpe top-scored for his side with 27 runs, while Namibia’s Handre Klazinga and Jan Balt starred with the bat, contributing 55 and 26 runs respectively.
“We are happy to win our second straight match in the Series, and we shall continue to work hard during every match we play,” Klazinga told Xinhua after the game.
In the day’s second encounter, which kept fans on the edge of their seats, Uganda’s Cricket Cranes edged the United Arab Emirates by six runs.
Defending a total of 126/9 in 20 overs, Uganda’s bowlers held their nerve, restricting the UAE to 120/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Strong bowling performances from captain Juma Miyaji, Cosmas Kyewuta, and Alpesh Ramjani proved decisive. Uganda’s top scorers were Raghav Dhawan with 44 runs, Shrideep Mangela with 39, and Alpesh Ramjani who added 21.
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem led his side’s scoring with a hard-fought 33 runs. “It was tough luck for us,” said Waseem. “But we shall remain positive and rectify some of our mistakes in the other matches.”
Uganda skipper Miyaji praised his teammates for their support: “Getting a second win in the Series means a lot. I thank my team for backing me up with the decision to bowl in the 18th over,” he said.
Namibia currently tops the standings with a superior net run rate over Uganda, who also has two wins. UAE and Kenya follow with one win each from two matches, while Nigeria sits at the bottom after three consecutive losses.
The Pearl of Africa Cricket T20 Series serves as key preparation for all teams ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier scheduled for September. (Xinhua)
