Uganda continued their winning streak in the Pearl of Africa T20I Series with a commanding performance against Nigeria in Match 3, played today at the Entebbe Cricket Oval. The home side, already in fine form after earlier victories, outplayed the visitors in all departments to register another statement win in the multi-nation T20I tournament.
The match began at 12:00 PM local time, with Uganda winning the toss and opting to bat first under clear skies and ideal cricketing conditions. Their decision was quickly justified, as the top order made full use of a batting-friendly pitch. Opener Robinson Obuya led the charge with a composed yet aggressive innings, while Dinesh Nakrani provided stability through the middle overs. The pair built a strong platform, rotating strike cleverly and punishing anything short or wide.
Uganda’s innings gained further momentum thanks to Riazat Ali Shah and Kenneth Waiswa, whose late-innings flourish powered the hosts to a challenging total. Boundaries came frequently in the final overs, with Uganda finishing well above the par score typically expected at Entebbe Oval. Their final tally was reflective of an increasingly confident side thriving in home conditions.
Nigeria, in response, struggled to find rhythm against Uganda’s disciplined bowling attack. The early loss of key wickets put pressure on the middle order, which failed to build any lasting partnerships. Frank Nsubuga, the veteran off-spinner, once again proved his worth by choking runs in the powerplay and striking at crucial moments. His control and flight dismantled Nigeria’s hopes of a recovery, supported ably by pace options like Cosmas Kyewuta and Bilal Hassan.
Despite brief resistance from Nigeria’s Selim Salau and captain Sylvester Okpe, the scoreboard pressure kept mounting. Wickets fell regularly, with Uganda maintaining sharpness in the field and not letting up at any stage. Nigeria eventually fell short by a significant margin, handing Uganda their second straight win in the tournament.
The victory places Uganda in a dominant position early in the competition. With back-to-back wins and superior net run rate, they’ve already laid a strong foundation for a run to the final. Their squad depth, experienced leadership, and familiarity with home conditions are all contributing factors to their early success.
Fan interest in the Pearl of Africa T20I Series continues to grow, with matches streamed live on FanCode and attendance at Entebbe Oval increasing with each fixture. Uganda’s success on the field is further fueling enthusiasm, as they aim to finish top of the table in this five-team round-robin event also featuring Kenya, UAE, Uganda A, and Nigeria.
Up next, Uganda face arch-rivals Kenya on July 21 in what promises to be one of the marquee matchups of the tournament. Nigeria, on the other hand, will look to bounce back and recalibrate their campaign when they meet Uganda A on July 19.
As things stand, Uganda remain the team to beat—disciplined, confident, and perfectly in sync with their game plan.