Uganda knocked out of T20 World Cup Qualifier in semis

Not Good Enough. Kevin Awino has been a runs machine for Uganda during this ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier but she failed to fire against Zimbabwe in Friday's semifinal. PHOTO/INNOCENT NDAWULA.

What you need to know:

Ranking Consolation. All-rounder Precious Marange got Zimbabwe out of jail and sent Uganda packing into prison with a fine all-round performance that saw her score 40 runs off just 25 balls and pick 1 wicket for 8 runs in her 4 overs to subject Uganda to a 14-run defeat.

ICC WOMEN’S T20WCAQ
Results – Semifinals

Zimbabwe 108/6 Uganda 94/10
Zimbabwe won by 14 runs

Tanzania 89/7 Namibia 90/8
Namibia won by 2 wickets

Fixtures – Sunday (BCA Oval 1)
Bronze Match (Third place playoff)

9.15am: Uganda vs. Tanzania

Gold Match (Final)
3.15pm: Zimbabwe vs. Namibia

GABORONE. Uganda’s campaign at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Gaborone came to a painful end at the semifinal stage after the Victoria Pearls lost to Zimbabwe’s Lady Chevrons by just 14 runs this afternoon.

All-rounder Precious Marange, who also plays rugby for the Zimbabwe national women’s team was the difference with 40 runs off 25 balls and 1 wicket for 8 runs in 4 overs as the southern Africans set 108 runs and bowled out Uganda for 94 runs.

Despite captain Immaculate Nakisuyi not winning the pre-match toss, Uganda were in total control as the Lady Chevrons struggled at 31 runs for 3 wickets in 10 overs.  But the arrival of Marange in the 14th over changed the tide of the game.

Precious gem

Marange found the sweet spot of her bat early on and smacked the ball all-over the pack in a beautiful 25-ball cameo that yielded 40 runs comprising off three boundaries and three sixes to help Zimbabwe score 66 runs off the last seven overs to help the No.12 ranked nation set a competitive score – thanks in no small part to another all-rounder Loreen Tshuma, who played out an unbeaten little beautiful cameo off 22 runs from 21 balls.

Little Joy. Uganda's Victoria Pearls celebrate the fall of a Zimbabwe wicket during their semifinal clash in Gaborone, Botswana on Friday. PHOTO/INNOCENT NDAWULA 

None of the Ugandan batters was able to usurp what had been done by the Zimbabwean pair of Marange and Tshuma with the best; Nakisuyi (18 runs off 29 balls), Rachael Ntono (14 runs off 25 balls) and Proscovia Alako (12 runs off 18 balls) falling before they could wreak any havoc and forthwith leaving their team with a lot to do at the back end of the innings.

Esther Mbofana with three scalps and Tasmeen Granger with two wickets sealed Uganda’s fate to ensure Zimbabwe progress to play Namibia, who edged Tanzania by two wickets in a low-scoring thriller, in the grand finale for the continent’s lone ticket to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier next year.

The World Cup will be hosted by South Africa in 2023.