The Pearl of Africa T20 Series continued its action-packed run in Entebbe, Uganda, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) asserting their dominance in Match 7 by dismantling Nigeria with a commanding 7-wicket victory. The tournament, running through July 27, has brought together five international teams—Uganda, UAE, Kenya, Nigeria, and Namibia A—for a double round-robin contest aimed at fine-tuning squads ahead of global qualifiers and ICC events.
In Monday’s fixture, Nigeria were bowled out for a mere 58 runs in just 13.3 overs. The UAE bowlers, led by tight seam and swing bowling, made early inroads and never let the Nigerian batting recover. With clinical precision, the UAE chased down the target in only 4.5 overs, finishing at 59/3 and securing the win with an astounding 91 balls to spare. Muhammad Zuhaib’s calm and assured innings earned him the Player of the Match award.
This was a bounce-back performance from UAE, who had lost a tight game to Uganda in Match 6 just a day earlier. In that match, Uganda had edged out a 6-run victory thanks to all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani’s crucial spell that choked UAE’s chase in the death overs. However, with this dominant win over Nigeria, UAE now sit near the top of the standings with two wins from three games and a healthy net run rate.
The tournament’s opening matches have showcased competitive cricket across the board. Uganda, playing at home, began with a narrow 2-run loss to Namibia A but rebounded quickly with a thumping 77-run win over Nigeria and a gritty win against UAE. Kenya, meanwhile, registered a solitary win so far, with performances still fluctuating. Namibia A have played just one game so far, but their tight victory against Uganda established them as a team to watch.
With the group stage progressing swiftly, the points table is tight at the top. UAE and Uganda are in pole position, but Kenya and Namibia A are still in the race for the final stages. Nigeria, despite fighting spirit, remain winless and at the bottom of the table, needing a dramatic turnaround in their final matches.
The Pearl of Africa T20 Series is more than just a tournament—it is a testbed for fringe international players and teams seeking to climb the ICC rankings and sharpen strategies ahead of upcoming global qualifiers. The pitches in Entebbe have offered good bounce and turn, creating a fair contest between bat and ball. Teams have utilized these conditions to experiment with bowling variations, middle-order reshuffles, and death-over strategies.
As the action continues toward the final on July 27, each game now carries greater weight in determining the top two sides. Uganda next face Kenya in a high-stakes East African derby, while UAE will look to maintain their form in upcoming games against Kenya and Namibia A. With momentum shifting daily, the Pearl of Africa Series remains one of the most closely contested T20I events on the associate calendar this year.