Uganda played their first international cricket match against a Test-playing member during the 10th match at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier 2023 against Zimbabwe. In that historical T20I match, Uganda claimed a stunning five-wicket win to record their first international victory against an ICC Full member or a Test-playing member.
As Zimbabwe lost their opening game of the tournament against the hosts Namibia, they couldn’t afford another defeat in this competition as the top two teams in the final points table will qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
In the tough moment, Zimbabwe suffered another defeat as Uganda recorded their first international cricket victory against a Test-playing member.
Zimbabwe 136/7, Uganda 138/5; Uganda recorded first win against a Test-playing member after beating Zimbabwe
After Uganda chose to field first, Zimbabwe scored 136/7 in 20 overs. In reply, Uganda reached the target in 19.1 overs after losing five wickets.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza had a key role in the Chevrons’ firing total as Raza scored 48 runs in 39 balls with two fours and four sixes. Only the opener Innocent Kaia (23), Sean Williams (21), and Ryan Burl (13) were the other Zimbabwe batters to score double-digit runs in the game.
Among the Uganda bowlers, while the left-arm medium bowler Dinesh Nakrani got three wickets (3/14), the left-arm spinner Henry Ssenyondo took two wickets (2/25).
In chasing, Uganda lost both the openers in 12 runs in 3.5 overs. While Roger Mukasa was run out for 23 runs, Alpesh Ramjani (40) and Riazat Ali Shah (42) scored crucial match-winning 40s. Although Richard Ngarava (2/24) and Sean Williams (1/14) picked up crucial wickets, those couldn’t save them from the embarrassing defeats.
In that historic victory, Riazat Ali Shah won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning 42 runs and one wicket with the ball (1/29).
