The Victoria Pearls finally got their first win at the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy but they had to sweat for every bit of it, edging Papua New Guinea by a slim four-run margin in a tense finish.
Uganda, for the first time in this competition, chose to bat after winning the toss.
The team remained unchanged and looked composed early on, moving to 5 without loss in the opening over.
Their first stumble came in the fifth, when Esther Iloku’s attempted back-foot stroke sent her stumps flying. Still, Uganda navigated the powerplay sensibly at 32/1 and kept building to reach 57/1 halfway through the innings.
Immaculate Nakisuuyi once again couldn’t turn her start into a big one—falling for 20, caught at backward point, marking her third similar dismissal of the tournament. Her exit ushered in Rita Musamali in the 13th over, but she too didn’t last long, gifting a soft caught-and-bowled.
The innings, however, belonged entirely to captain Janet Mbabazi. Calm, precise, and unbothered by PNG’s bowlers, she crafted a magnificent unbeaten 60 from 50 balls. With a late push of 31 runs in the final overs—helped by Stephanie Nampiina’s handy 13 before a run-out—Uganda closed on 117/4.
PNG’s reply started slowly, thanks to tight early bowling from Uganda. Only two runs came from the opening over, and Consy Aweko struck soon after, keeping PNG to 21/1 in six overs and 38/1 after ten.
But the match flipped sharply in the 11th, when PNG blasted 14 runs, and again when Aweko’s 15th over leaked 16, suddenly putting the chase in motion. With 25 needed from four overs, PNG seemed on course.
Then came Kevin Amuge. Brought back at a potentially game-changing moment, she ripped through the middle order—first removing Brenda Tau for 23 before bowling Isabela Toua the very next ball. Uganda surged back into contention as the equation dropped to 17 off 12, then 13 from the final six.
Captain Mbabazi took responsibility for the last over. PNG managed six from the first two deliveries, but the third ball proved decisive—Pauke Siaka, who had smashed a threatening 39 off 23, was pinned LBW. Mbabazi held her nerve from there, closing the door and completing a Player-of-the-Match performance: an unbeaten half-century, a crucial wicket, and a safe catch earlier in the innings to remove Henao Thomas (27).
Uganda’s fielding was far from perfect—misfields and needless overthrows kept PNG in the fight—but their batting finally clicked, and they adapted better to the Thai conditions.
Head coach Deus Muhumuza tempered the celebrations:
“We still have a lot to improve. The issues aren’t about talent—we’ve been in such moments before. It’s about staying disciplined, coping with pressure, and maintaining that fighting mentality. But I’m happy we won, and we’ll try to build on it.”
Elsewhere, the Netherlands defeated Tanzania by seven wickets, Thailand overcame Namibia by 27 runs, and Scotland beat the UAE by seven.
Uganda will rest tomorrow before taking on the UAE on Tuesday at the Asian Institute Cricket Ground, carrying renewed confidence into their next challenge.
