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DOMINANT VICTORIA PEARLS DEFEAT CANADA THANKS TO BRILLIANT KEVIN AMUGE

Uganda's Victoria Pearls thrashed Canada by 7 wickets in the 1st T20I. Kevin Amuge's 4/17 bowled Canada out for 67 before captain Janet Mbabazi's 37* guided the hosts to a dominant win in Lugogo.

Dominant Victoria Pearls Defeat Canada Thanks To Brilliant Kevin Amuge
Kevin Amuge in action - Photo Creator: PALACIO Fabrice

At Lugogo Cricket Oval on Monday, Uganda's Victoria Pearls easily defeated Canada by seven wickets in the first Twenty20 International of the Victoria Series.

After choosing to bowl after winning the toss, Uganda's bowlers put on a disciplined display, dismissing Canada for a mere 67 runs in 19.2 overs.

With an outstanding 4 for 17 and help from Immaculate Nakisuuyi (2 for 13), Kevin Amuge was the hero of the show. Sarah Akiteng and Naume Jane Amongin both claimed a wicket.

With opener Achini Perera getting 13 off 21 and captain Amarpal Kaur leading the scoring with 18 off 31 balls, Canada found it difficult to gain traction. Uganda's pressure and incisive fielding caused the rest of the squad to collapse.

The Victoria Pearls responded by easily chasing down the 68-point target. Nakisuuyi contributed a solid 15 off 16, but captain Janet Mbabazi took the lead with an undefeated 37 off 34 balls, hitting with assurance at a pace of 108.82. Despite taking a wicket apiece, Canada's bowlers Kaur, Vandana Mahajan, and Perera were unable to halt Uganda's momentum.

After the game, Amuge, who took four wickets and made two catches to win Player of the Match, was clearly upset. "I am overjoyed for my teammates and myself. She dedicated her medal to Captain Mbabazi and the rest of the team for their encouragement and support, saying, "The team accomplished our strategy brilliantly."

During their East African tour, Canada views the series as a chance for development and visibility. Following the Uganda series, the visitors—who have only participated in 21 Twenty20 Internationals since 2019—will also play Tanzania.

Despite the defeat, Canadian captain Amarpal Kaur maintained his positive attitude. "We followed our plan when bowling, but we did not add good batting to support it," she remarked. "This surface is fantastic for batting, and we will try to do better in the following game."

The five-match series' second matchday kicks off tomorrow at 10 a.m. (EAT) at the same location.

KCCA BOUNCE BACK: KASASIRO BOYS OVERCOME RECENT SLUMP WITH A GRITTY 2-1 BUL WIN

KCCA are back: Discover how Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai secured a 2-1 win over Bul to rejoin the UPL title race.

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KCCA climbs to fourth as UPL title race heats up in February

Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai both found the net for KCCA, either side of a Denis Sewagudde goal, in a win that really should let coaches Ssenyondo and Jackson Magera breathe a little easier.

Zeal. Hunger. Character. Attitude. That’s what KCCA coach Brian Ssenyondo wanted to see after his team got handed their third loss in five games last week, a 3-1 defeat to NEC that stung. This time, he finally got it. KCCA showed all those qualities and pulled off a gritty 2-1 victory over Bul in the Uganda Premier League at Phillip Omondi Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ahimbisibwe and Achai scored for KCCA, with Sewagudde briefly levelling for Bul, and the result means Ssenyondo and Magera can at least feel the pressure lift for now.

But maybe more importantly, this win drags KCCA back into the title race. They’re now sitting on 33 points from 17 games, just five behind leaders Vipers.

The game started off tight, both sides feeling each other out, but Bul looked a little sharper early on. Even so, it was KCCA who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with their first real chance. They overloaded the right, Saidi Mayanja whipped in a cross, and Ahimbisibwe, timing his run just right, dived in for a header. That’s his seventh goal of the season, and honestly, he’s been one of the few bright spots among the club’s new signings.

KCCA then had to dig in. Achai made a crucial block to deny Karim Ndugwa after a cross from Reagan Kalyowa. But just before halftime, the tricky Sewagudde bent in a free kick that completely wrong-footed KCCA keeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa, and Bul were level.

After the break, KCCA rediscovered their missing edge. Four minutes into the second half, left-back Achai stormed forward, played a quick one-two with Ashraf Mugume, then hammered the ball past Bul’s Ikara at the near post.

From there, KCCA held Bul at bay, sealing a rare home-and-away double over their Njeru-based rivals, who remain eighth on 20 points.

Earlier that day, Lugazi captain Richard Ayiko grabbed the winner as his side edged UPDF 1-0 in Najjembe, giving them a six-point cushion above the relegation zone. And at the bottom, Calvary finally picked up their fifth point of the season with a goalless draw against Express in Yumbe.

TITLE RACE HEAT: HOW VIPERS DROPPING HOME POINTS GIVES KITARA A CHANCE TO STRIKE

Vipers SC stay top of the UPL with 38 points! Discover how Warren Buule’s equaliser for NEC FC shook up the title race at Kitende.

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Vipers stay top with 38 points, but Kitara is closing fast

NEC are stuck in seventh place with 24 points from 17 games. Vipers, even after dropping home points for just the second time this season, hang on to the top spot with 38.

Honestly, NEC have drawn more games than they'd like, nine out of 17. That’s a lot of stalemates in the Startimes Uganda Premier League. But this time, their 1-1 draw away to the reigning champs, Vipers, felt like more than just another point. It actually meant something, especially under the lights at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Tuesday evening.

Vipers came out flying. They grabbed the lead early and pretty much ran the first half. Six minutes in, Milton Karisa latched onto a slick through ball from Karim Watambala and curled a lovely left-footed shot past NEC keeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo. That was Karisa’s sixth goal of the season, and for a minute there, it looked like the Vipers were about to run riot, just like they did in their 4-0 demolition of Buhimba last time at home.

NEC looked shaky. Coach Badru Kaddu had seen enough and made two early changes, bringing on Shamir Kimwero and Joseph Dhata for Rashid Kawawa and Daniel Shabene inside 25 minutes. The switch helped steady things, but NEC didn’t really come to life until the second half.

Then, with 15 minutes left, substitute Emmanuel Kulanga swung in a cross, and Warren Buule was there at the far post to head in the equaliser. That goal was well earned; NEC were much better after the break. Richard Basangwa, playing up front, kept his old team busy and even got Bady Da Silva and Enoch Ssebagala booked. Ssebagala didn’t last much longer, getting subbed off after a rough tackle on his former side.

NEC has been busy in the mid-season transfer window. They’ve already added six new faces, and more are on the way. Sam Ssekamatte, who scored five goals for UPDF in the first round, watched from the stands with the rest of the unused squad.

So, NEC holds on to seventh, Vipers stay top, but Kitara could shake things up if they beat URA on Thursday. This title race isn’t done yet.

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