By 
ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2025
28 Nov | 9:30 Local time, 5:30 am (EAT) | Asian Institute of Technology Cricket Ground
Everything comes to a head as Uganda’s Victoria Pearls step onto the field to face their familiar East African rivals, Tanzania.
After a tournament marked by sharp contrasts—a commanding win over Papua New Guinea overshadowed by bruising defeats to UAE and Thailand—the Pearls know this clash is more than just another fixture.
It is a test of resilience, memory, belief and a Dejavu moment for them.
Uganda arrives with wounds still fresh; their latest outing ended in an eight-wicket dismantling by Thailand, a match where nothing seemed to stick.
Losing the toss set the tone; early wickets followed in a cascade.
Janet’s run-out sparked the slide, Nakisuuyi’s LBW deepened it, and even a tactical reshuffle that brought in the experienced Kevin Awino couldn’t halt the collapse.
A fleeting moment of hope came when Kevin was recalled after a review, but it dissolved quickly.
Iloku, Kevin, Rita—each dismissal chipped away at Uganda’s confidence as they limped to 19/4 in the powerplay and just 29/5 at the halfway mark.
Bowled out for 55, they could only watch as Thailand’s chase unfolded with calm assurance, led by the composed Koncharoenkai.
Now, with Tanzania and the Netherlands looming and today being a rest day, Uganda must regroup with urgency.
Their bowling—disciplined, deceptive, consistent—remains their anchor.
Spin will again be their trusted ally on Bangkok’s grippy surface.
But to stay alive, the batting must rediscover its backbone.
Tanzania, meanwhile, walk a tightrope of their own.
With only one win in their last four outings, inconsistency has haunted them.
Their strengths are clear: a steady top order capable of building platforms, and a spin attack that thrives when conditions suit.
Yet late-innings lapses have cost them dearly, allowing oppositions back into games they once controlled.
For them, this is a battle of survival; for Uganda, a fight for stability.
This rivalry itself adds layers of tension. Over the past few years, Uganda and Tanzania have produced a string of nail-biters—five matches, each etched with its own drama.
- In April 2023, Uganda clung to victory by just 3 runs in a rain-adjusted contest in Kampala during the Victoria Series.
- That December in Entebbe, they triumphed again—this time a 10-run win in a low-scoring semi-final at the ICC Women’s Africa Division One Qualifiers.
- Fast-forward to 2025, and Uganda continued their surge with a 20-run win at the Kwibuka Women’s Tournament in Kigali.
But momentum, like sport, rarely runs in straight lines. - On August 31, 2025, Tanzania struck back, stealing a tense match by 1 run during the ICC Women’s Africa Division One Qualifiers in Windhoek.
- Weeks later, in the same tournament, they did it again—this time by 6 runs in a nerve-racking playoff.
Photos from the last time Uganda played against Tanzania in Namibia
These games have swung like a pendulum—moments of brilliance answered by stubborn resistance, narrow escapes met with hard-won comebacks.
And yet, Uganda cling to a slender statistical edge: they sit two places higher in the ICC rankings, 17th to Tanzania’s 19th.
Rankings, however, offer no comfort once the first ball is bowled.
What lies ahead is a high-stakes encounter shaped by discipline, nerve, and the ability to seize key moments.
Uganda know that victory here not only steadies their campaign—it breathes life into their final challenge against the Netherlands.
Tanzania fights for survival, Uganda for redemption.
And as history has shown, when these two neighbours meet, nothing comes easy.
Everything is up for grabs. And everything is at stake.
