Harare – September 26. Zimbabwe struck the first blow in Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier after defeating Uganda by 5 wickets with 15 balls to spare in front of a lively crowd at Harare Sports Club.
After being sent in to bat, Uganda posted 152/9 in 20 overs, with Sumeet Verma (45 off 32) and Raghav Dhawan (29 off 19) providing the early spark. Skipper Riazat Ali Shah (35 off 24) also played a pivotal role. But having raced to 100 in just 12 overs, Uganda managed only 52 runs in the final 8 overs. “We got a good start from Sumeet and Raghav, but fell short at the back end,” admitted captain Shah. “Those last eight overs really hurt us.”
Zimbabwe’s chase was powered by Brian Bennett’s explosive 72 off 44 balls, who was deservedly named Player of the Match. Brendan Taylor chipped in with 39, while captain Sikandar Raza (24 off 16) ensured stability in the middle order. Raza credited Uganda for their improvement: “Uganda keep getting better each year, and they pushed us hard. But today the wickets in Harare played true – unlike Namibia in 2023 – and that allowed us to express ourselves.”
Uganda’s bowlers showed heart, with spinners Henry Ssenyondo and Joseph Baguma and seamer Cosmas Kyewuta pegging Zimbabwe back late in the chase. “We tried to wrestle the game back with spin and pace, but Bennett had already done the damage,” reflected wicketkeeper Cyrus Kakuru.
The atmosphere was enhanced by a spirited band of Ugandan fans who drummed and cheered every passage of play, despite the loss. The victory gave Zimbabwe sweet revenge after Uganda stunned them in Namibia two years ago to qualify for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe march on unbeaten in Group B, while Uganda must now treat their remaining group games as virtual finals.
Match Summary
Uganda: 152/9 in 20 overs | Zimbabwe: 157/5 in 17.3 overs
Result: Zimbabwe won by 5 wickets (with 15 balls remaining).
Next Fixtures – Group B
Sunday, Sept 28: Uganda vs. Tanzania, 10:30am, Takashinga CC
Tuesday, Sept 30: Uganda vs. Botswana, 10:30am, Takashinga CC
#LycaConnectsCricket