The Cricket Cranes defended their title at the second edition of the Pearl of Africa (POA) T20 Series with a nerve-wracking 8-run win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a winner-takes-all final at the scenic Entebbe Oval on Sunday.
Uganda completed the tournament unbeaten, collecting a maximum 12 points from six games in the double round-robin series, leaving pre-tournament favourites UAE ruing a missed opportunity to snatch the title on Net Run Rate.
The decisive match saw Uganda post a formidable 170/7 in their 20 overs, largely thanks to a match-defining 99-run stand between the tournament’s top batter Raghav Dhawan (56 off 41) and MVP Alpesh Ramjani (61 off 34).
The pair rescued Uganda from a precarious 51/3 in the ninth over to set a competitive total, despite UAE bowlers Akif Raja (2/31) and Ali Haider (2/37) claiming key scalps.
Ramjani, who would go on to be named both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, showcased his all-round class with a blazing knock and later chipped in with 1/33 from his four overs.
In reply, the UAE mounted a spirited chase, with five batters crossing the 20-run mark. However, no one stood long enough to anchor the innings, as Uganda’s disciplined bowling attack struck at crucial intervals.
Dinesh Nakrani (2/24), Frank Nsubuga (2/31), and Matthew Musinguzi (1/15) applied the brakes just when the visitors looked threatening, eventually restricting them to 162/9.
Uganda skipper Juma Miyaji, who won the toss and elected to bat, lauded the team’s execution and mental toughness.
“We knew we had to be clinical today. The energy from the home fans lifted us, and I’m proud of the character shown. This win means everything heading into the qualifiers,” said Miyaji.
Assistant coach Jackson Ogwang echoed the captain’s sentiments, commending the side’s growth and adaptability.
“We’ve grown a lot in this series. Today, we stuck to our plans, adapted quickly, and it’s a deserving win. The runs on board made us believe we could carry the day and beat a team ranked better than us,” Ogwang said.
The win not only hands Uganda a major morale boost ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers later this year but also earns them crucial T20I ranking points.
