Janet Mbabazi helps Uganda win series opener against Nepal

All-round performance from Janet Mbabazi helped Uganda start the five-match T20I tour of Nepal with a 12-run win against the hosts at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday (May 16).



Put into bat by Nepal, the visitors had a terrible start losing opener Leona Babirye in the first over with Kabita Kunwar castling her for a first-ball duck. Coming into bat at three, Mbabazi added 45 runs for the second with Kevin Awino.



However, both Mbabazi and Awino fell in quick succession as Nepal struck twice in two overs to leave Uganda reeling at 48 for 3 in the 12^th over. From there, handy contributions from Franklin Najjumba and Rita Musamali put Uganda back on track. A quick fire cameo of 18 from just Rita Nyangendo made sure that they put a three-figure score on the board.



Mbabazi was the top-scorer for Uganda with 29, while Kunwar finished with figures of two for 15 from her four overs.



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In the chase, Nepal openers added 20 runs in 4.2 overs before Bindu Rawal fell to a run out. Once the opening partnership was broken they lost wickets in regular intervals and couldn’t force the pace.



Skipper Rubina Chhetry struggled to get going and could score only nine from the 22 deliveries she faced. Indu Barma was stranded at one end even as wickets continue to fall at the other end. At one stage, Nepal for 49 for five and by the time Barma fell in the 19^th over asking rate was too high for the home side.



Despite two boundaries from Dolly Bhatta and six-ball 11 from Kunwar, Nepal eventually finished 12-run short of Uganda’s score. The final score for the hosts read 90 for nine with only Barma’s 28-ball as 16 as the top-score.



For Uganda, captain Consylate Numungu was the most successful bowler with figures of two for 15, while Mbabazi gave away only 14 runs from her four overs and took the wicket of Apsari Begam.



Brief Scores: Uganda 102/5 in 20 overs (Janet Mbabazi 29; Kabita Kunwar 2/15) beat Nepal 90/9 in 20 overs (Indu Barma 16; Consylate Numungu 2/15) by 12 runs POTM: Janent Mbabazi