04 January 2023 | Cricket

Victoria Pearls will head into 2023 with a lot of opportunities on the table for playing more Cricket after impressing in 2022. Their 1st engagement to Namibia was early in 2022 with players such as Phiona Khulume, Sarah Akiteng, Susan Kakai, Shakira Shadiq, and Leona Babirye featuring for the team. Victoria Pearls lost all games in the Tri-Nation Series that had Namibia and Zimbabwe. However, positives were picked by the team with Phiona Khulume and Sarah Akiteng making an impression and Janet Mbabazi also delivering with bat and ball. They toured Asia for the first time with a trip to Nepal for 5 T20I matches. Ugandans won 3 games on the bounce and climbed back to 19th from 21st in the World rankings. Uganda made a return to the Kwibuka after missing 2021 due to Covid and two losses to Tanzania and Kenya in the groups hurt their chances of making the finals and eventually having to settle for a 3rd place finish. The end-of-year four-nation tournament in Nairobi saw the girls win their second silverware in the year. The Victoria Pearls defeated neighbours Kenya and Tanzania. Janet Mbabazi had another fine all-round performance scooping the Player of the tournament award. The return of Immaculate Nakisuyi, Stephanie Nampiina, Irene Alumo, Proscovia Alako and Esther Iloku boosted the squad. In 2023, Victoria Pearls will make a maiden appearance at the All Africa Games in Ghana in August and the all-important 2024 T20 World Cup qualifiers that will be held in June. The experience gained by new players such as Khulume and Akiteng plus the form of Mbabazi makes the Victoria Pearls are more improved side with the experience of Nakisuyi and Alumo. Victoria Pearls’ captain Consy Aweko finished 2022 as the highest wicket-taker in Women’s Cricket with 40 scalps. Aweko is the very quiet customer who does all the talking with the ball and has grown into the leadership role.

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