The air was electric at the serene lakeside Entebbe Cricket Oval as Uganda’s Cricket Cranes etched their name in history once more—clinching the second edition of the Pearl of Africa T20 Series with an unbeaten record, capped by a thrilling 8-run victory over tournament favourites United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday.
In what felt like a scripted finale, the Cranes stood tall under pressure, delivering a perfect 6-win streak that not only defended their crown but sent a resounding message ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers.
“This win means everything heading into the qualifiers,” beamed skipper Juma Miyaji, his words cutting through the post-match celebrations. “The energy from the home fans lifted us, and I’m proud of the character shown.”
A Masterclass in Pressure Cricket
After winning the toss, Miyaji made a brave call to bat first—a decision that paid off handsomely. Uganda’s innings was initially shaky at 51/3 after 8.3 overs, but then came the tournament’s defining partnership. Alpesh Ramjani and Raghav Dhawan, a duo already in red-hot form, stitched together a breathtaking 99-run stand in just 51 balls.
Ramjani, who was later crowned both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, hammered a scintillating 61 off 34 deliveries, while Dhawan’s composed 56 off 41 balls underlined his status as the series’ top scorer.
Uganda’s final tally of 170/7 was both defiant and daring—enough to test UAE’s resolve.
Tense Chase, Timely Strikes
UAE’s response was measured, but Uganda’s bowlers never let the visitors settle. Wickets fell just when momentum threatened to swing. Veteran spinner Frank Nsubuga, left-arm seamer Dinesh Nakrani, and young pacer Matthew Musinguzi combined precision with calm under fire, claiming crucial breakthroughs.
Despite cameo contributions from E. D’Souza (32) and M. Zohaib (30), the Emiratis faltered under scoreboard pressure, finishing 8 runs short at 162/9 after their 20 overs.
“We’ve grown a lot this series,” said assistant coach Jackson Ogwang. “Today, we stuck to our plans, adapted quickly, and it’s a deserving win.”
Ramjani the Revelation
With 334 points accumulated across six games—thanks to consistent performances with both bat and ball—Alpesh Ramjani stood out as the heartbeat of Uganda’s campaign. His versatility and composure in high-pressure moments provided the balance that powered Uganda’s undefeated run.
Raghav Dhawan also impressed, bagging the Best Batsman award with a tournament tally of 228 runs.
Bigger Dreams Beckon
While the immediate celebration belongs to Uganda, the wider context offers more reason for optimism. This win earned the Cranes valuable T20I ranking points and a morale boost as they set their sights on World Cup qualification.
