Six-run escape! Nakisuuyi calls for better batting

Immaculate Nakisuuyi knows the Victoria Pearls have some work to do with the bat if they are to make their 2026 Victoria Series campaign more comfortable.

Despite Uganda picking up their second consecutive victory with a narrow six-run win over neighbours Rwanda at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe, Nakisuuyi believes their batting remains a concern after another difficult afternoon at the crease.

The all-rounder, who was named Player of the Match, was modest about her own contribution, instead praising her teammates for fighting to put runs on the board.

“I don’t think I had a good innings when we were batting. My teammates, my fellow players, tried their best to contribute runs and put runs on the board. We haven’t come up well in batting, but we are sure we will come up. We still have about five games to go, so we will come up,” she said.

It was another close call for the Victoria Pearls, who had to dig deep to protect a modest total after winning their opening match against Namibia by four wickets.

Uganda won the toss and elected to bat first, but their top order once again struggled to settle, leaving the middle order with the responsibility of rescuing the innings.

Rita Musamali scored 23 while Esther Iloku added 27, with the pair doing much of the repair work as Uganda struggled to find momentum.

The hosts eventually finished on 100/6 in their allotted 20 overs, setting Rwanda a target of 101 runs.

Rwanda started brightly, reaching 29 without loss inside the first five overs and threatening to take the game away from the hosts.

However, Uganda refused to let the visitors build on that promising start. Each time Rwanda attempted to put together a meaningful partnership, the Victoria Pearls found a way to break through with a wicket.

The game went down to the wire, with Rwanda needing 10 runs from the final six deliveries. With most of their recognised batters already back in the pavilion, the responsibility fell on the tail, which struggled to complete the chase.

Uganda held their nerve when it mattered most, conceding just 10 runs in the final 12 balls when Rwanda needed 17. Those two overs proved decisive, bringing the visitors’ hopes of a comeback to an end.

Nakisuuyi was central to the victory, contributing with both bat and ball. She scored 11 runs from 11 deliveries at a strike rate of 100 before claiming two wickets for 16 runs in her bowling spell.

But while Uganda celebrated another victory, the all-rounder was quick to identify why their matches have continued to go down to the final overs.

Asked why the team had found itself in such tight contests in consecutive matches, Nakisuuyi did not hesitate to point to the batting department.

“It’s basically because of our batting. We haven’t been in a position to put up a big number of runs on the board, but we are sure we know what we are supposed to do and we are going to keep working on that,” she explained.

Beyond the performance on the field, Nakisuuyi also acknowledged the supporters who turned up in bigger numbers at the Lakeside Oval, saying their encouragement gave the players an extra push.

“First, I will give thanks to the fans that came around. They were really pushing us. They were giving us morale, so they contributed to the win. As well, the team stayed together. We kept on communicating, and I mean, that’s it,” she said.

The victory keeps the Victoria Pearls unbeaten after two matches and makes them the only side yet to drop a game in the competition.

Their next assignment is against USA Women on Sunday, November 8, at the Lakeside Oval. The Americans head into the encounter searching for their first victory after losing to Rwanda on the opening day and Namibia on the second day.

The message from Nakisuuyi is that the bowling and team spirit are delivering, but the batting must improve.

“We are looking at scoring plenty of runs, so it’s just one ball at a time. We will just stay focused and see what God prepares for us,” she said.

The home supporters will also be keeping an eye on Kampi Nainhabo, who could make her much-anticipated debut for the Victoria Pearls against the USA as the defending champions look to make it three wins in a row.

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