Uganda maintained their winning momentum at the second edition of the Pearl of Africa (POA) T20 Series with a commanding 28-run victory over Kenya at the lakeside Entebbe Oval, in a performance that underlined their readiness for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Zimbabwe later this year.
Put in to bat for the third straight match, Uganda overcame a shaky start to post 157 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Early wickets threatened to derail the innings, with opener Ronald Lutaaya falling for a duck and Shrideep Mangela’s explosive 17 off 8 balls ending too soon.
But a resilient 84-run partnership between Raghav Dhawan (41 off 39) and Robinson Obuya (40 off 48) steadied the innings and laid the foundation for a late charge.
Skipper Juma Miyaji added a quickfire 19 off just 8 balls before all-rounder Dinesh Nakrani’s unbeaten 24 off 14 deliveries provided the finishing touches, lifting Uganda to a competitive total. Nakrani’s cameo featured a boundary and a towering six that thrilled the home crowd.
Kenya’s chase was rattled from the outset by Uganda’s veteran spinner Frank Nsubuga, who turned back the clock with a masterclass in control and accuracy.
The 44-year-old struck in the first over, dismissing Kenyan captain Dhiren Gondaria for 4, and followed it up with the scalps of Tanzeel Sheikh (0) and Pushkar Sharma to leave the visitors reeling at 12 for 3 inside the powerplay.
Rakep Patel offered resistance with a spirited 58 off 49 balls, while Sachin Gill chipped in with a brisk 30 off 21.
But the required rate continued to climb under the pressure of tight Ugandan bowling and sharp fielding.
Seamer Cosmas Kyewuta returned for a destructive second spell, cleaning up the middle and lower order to finish with 3 for 21 in his four overs.
He claimed the vital wickets of Patel, Gill, and Jasraj Kundi, sealing the win and earning Uganda their third consecutive victory in the series. Frank Nsubuga, whose 3 for 10 in just three overs set the tone, was named Player of the Match.
Alpesh Ramjani added a wicket to his name, while Nakrani and Miyaji maintained pressure with economical spells at the death.
Uganda’s head coach Jackson Ogwang hailed the team’s composure and execution. “The batsmen dug deep to rebuild and then Nsubuga and Kyewuta showed great control,” he said.
With the result, Uganda remain unbeaten in the tournament alongside Namibia A and will look to extend that run when they take on Nigeria on Tuesday, July 22 at 1:30 PM at Entebbe Oval.
The POA Series, part of Uganda’s build-up to the continental qualifiers, has so far highlighted their growing depth, tactical sharpness, and big-match temperament; qualities they hope will carry them to a second straight T20 World Cup appearance in 2026.
