By Denis Musali

Match Summary

Uganda v Namibia

Namibia 115/6 (Sarah Walaza 2/22 Immaculate Nakisuyi 2/18 ) Uganda 101/9 (Stephanie Nampiina 25, Naomi Kayondo 18)

Namibia won by 14 runs

The Lady Cricket Cranes are suffering the same fate as the U19 team suffered in Namibia with a single loss deciding their fate at the women's qualifiers in Zimbabwe. Namibia who were outsiders in Group B that included Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone are now favorites to top the group after defeating Kenya in their opening game and also defeated Uganda by 15 runs. 

Uganda came into the game high on confidence after defeating Sierra Leone by 90 runs in their opening game while Namibia also defeated Kenya in their opening game. Uganda won the toss and to field 1st a strange decision on a flat deck and the decision from the onset failed to yield any results as the Ugandan ladies failed to hold on to anything in the field. 

Namibia slowly accumulated their runs picking up alot of singles and twos and an odd boundary as they raced to a team total of 115/6. Sarah Walaza on her ICC debut was able to pick up 2/22 with Immaculate Nakisuyi picking 2/18, Uganda walked off the field knowing that the 115 could have easily been 80 runs if they had put in a better shift in the field. 

In the chase Uganda got off to a slow start losing Damalie Busingye early on and failing to deal with the spin of Namibia till Naomi Kayondo (18) took up the initiative to take on the spinners. She used the sweep shot to good effect as she picked up a couple of boundaries as she and Rachel Ntono tried to resurrect the chase. 

When Naomi Kayondo miscued a sweep shot to short fine leg the Ugandan chase lost some steam till Rita Musamali (17) and Stephanie Nampiina (25) combined for a partnership of 38 to bring the equation down to 25 needed off 18 balls. However, Rita Musamali and Stephanie Nampiina lost their wickets in quick succession completely deflating the chase with the tail failing to wag. Namibia completing a famous win over the reigning African Champions by 15 runs. 

The loss leaves the hopes of Uganda playing in the final in the balance as they will need Sierra Leone to do them a favour against Namibia while the Lady Cricket Cranes will have to knock over their rivals Kenya. 

Uganda will take on Kenya on Wednesday afternoon for their last group game.