Mbabazi says job is not yet done as Victoria Pearls reach final

Janet Mbabazi has reminded Uganda’s Victoria Pearls that reaching the final of the 2026 Victoria Series is only half the job after they bounced back from two successive defeats to beat USA Women by 14 runs at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe on Thursday.

The Uganda captain was pleased to see her team rediscover its winning touch when it mattered most, but insists there is still work to be done before they can celebrate a successful campaign.

“Obviously, our confidence is back up. I’m not saying that our confidence was low the past two days. We knew that we had to win this game to be able to play in the final,” Mbabazi said.

Having started the tournament with three victories from three matches in the first round-robin phase, the Victoria Pearls had stumbled in the second round, losing back-to-back matches against Namibia and Rwanda.

That left them needing just one more victory to book their place in the final, and they delivered against an American side that had hoped to carry Wednesday’s first tournament win into another strong performance.

USA Women had beaten Namibia by one wicket on Wednesday to register their first victory of the competition. Although they had already dropped out of the race for the final, they were determined to finish the round-robin stage on a positive note.

Uganda, however, had a final to secure. After winning the toss, USA elected to bowl first, putting the Victoria Pearls under pressure to produce a competitive total.

The hosts found runs difficult to come by early on, losing captain Mbabazi for just two off nine deliveries before Proscovia Alako departed for three off 11 balls.

Stephanie Nampiina then took responsibility, holding Uganda’s innings together with a patient but valuable 53 off 51 deliveries. Her knock included seven fours and a six and proved decisive in giving the hosts something to defend.

Rita Musamali provided support with 22 off 28 balls, while Malisa Ariokot scored seven. Immaculate Nakisuuyi managed one, Esther Iloku remained unbeaten on nine, and Kevin Awino finished unbeaten on one as Uganda posted 105 for six in their 20 overs.

Geetika Kodali was USA’s leading bowler with two wickets for 15 runs. Ritu Priya Singh, Lekha Shetty, Sainavi Kambalapalli and Aditiba Indrajitsinh Chudasama took a wicket each.

Uganda needed discipline with the ball, and their response showed exactly why they had remained among the tournament’s strongest sides.

USA made a reasonable start to the chase, with Chetna Reddy Pagydyala scoring 11 before Sainavi Kambalapalli added 25 off 31 deliveries. Ella Caterina Claridge also offered resistance with 24 off 27 balls.

But the Victoria Pearls kept finding ways to break partnerships, preventing the Americans from building the momentum needed to chase down 106.

Asumin Akurut led the bowling effort with three wickets for 22 runs in four overs, while Mbabazi produced an equally important spell, taking three for 13. Immaculate Nakisuuyi and Consylate Aweko Nimungu claimed a wicket apiece as USA finished on 91 for nine.

Mbabazi was particularly pleased that the victory came through contributions from different members of the team rather than one individual carrying the responsibility.

She praised Nampiina for stepping up with the bat, Akurut for her impact with the ball and the contributions of Aweko and Ariokot, who was trusted with defending the runs in the final over.

“I’m glad that Stephanie was able to step up for the team and Asumin coming on to bowl for us. Myself, Aweko coming in and Ariokot being given the opportunity to defend the runs in the last over,” she said.

“I think everyone understood that they needed to play in the finals.”

Ariokot’s promotion up the batting order was another adjustment that caught attention, having also been given responsibility during the closing stages of USA’s innings.

Mbabazi explained that the decision was intended to make better use of Ariokot’s running between the wickets while giving Esther Iloku an opportunity to gain confidence and express herself with the bat.

“For Ariokot to bat up, I think she’s been doing well running in between wickets and just getting her bat up. I think it was just to try and give Iloku some bit of confidence with the bat as well,” Mbabazi explained.

“Seeing her come out and express herself with that adjustment was good.”

The victory has put the disappointment of the defeats against Namibia and Rwanda behind the Victoria Pearls, but their captain is not allowing the team to get carried away.

She believes the players must use the remaining time to sharpen their performance, particularly with the final offering an opportunity to turn their strong tournament start into silverware.

“I’m proud to be able to actually get over the line. But the job is not yet done,” she said.

“We need to still get better, improve as a team. Hopefully we’ll see more runs like Stephanie today. As a team we’re just excited and we’re just going to take a rest day and come back strong on the final day.”

The defeat for USA Women means they will have to settle for the third-place playoff after their hopes of reaching the final had already ended.

Hosts Uganda, meanwhile, have another chance to finish the tournament on a high.

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