Tanzania U-19 secured a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Uganda U-19 in the opening match of the 2025 Easter Youth 50-Overs Series at Lugogo Cricket Oval. In a game filled with momentum shifts, Tanzania’s disciplined bowling effort restricted Uganda to 160 all out in 34.2 overs before their batsmen, led by Mohamed Simba Mbaki, anchored a composed chase to seal the win in 39.1 overs.
Opting to bowl first, Tanzania’s bowlers made early inroads, with Khalidy Amiri Juma striking in the very first over to dismiss Uganda’s opener Gerald Olipa for a duck. Uganda’s top order struggled under relentless pressure, but Christopher Kidega (32) and Conrad Lubwama forged a brief 40-run stand to stabilize the innings. However, quick wickets and two crucial runouts curtailed their progress. Ochen Peter’s resilient 47 off 50 balls, coupled with Musa Majid’s steady 23, provided Uganda with some hope, but a disciplined Tanzanian attack, spearheaded by Amiri (3/22) and Augustine Meya (2/23), ensured that Uganda fell well short of a competitive total.
Chasing 161, Tanzania faced an early scare as Ugandan pacer Balidawa Ali wreaked havoc in the powerplay, reducing the visitors to 47/3. With the game hanging in the balance, Dylan Manish Thakrar (30) and Augustine Meya (26) steadied the ship before the in-form Mohamed Simba Mbaki guided Tanzania home with an unbeaten 41 off 40 balls. Uganda’s bowlers, particularly Balidawa (3/27) and Nyiiro Jonathan (2/18), kept their side in the contest, but Tanzania’s lower order held firm to complete the chase with 10.5 overs to spare.
Mbaki’s all-round brilliance earned him the Player of the Match accolade, as his composed innings and crucial breakthroughs with the ball played a decisive role in Tanzania’s triumph. Speaking after the match, Uganda’s captain Gerald Olipa rued his team’s missed chances, particularly dropped catches, which could have altered the outcome. Assistant coach Robinson Turinawe echoed similar sentiments but remained optimistic about the team’s ability to bounce back in the next fixture.
With this victory, Tanzania takes an early lead in the series and will be eager to carry their momentum into the second match tomorrow. Uganda, on the other hand, will look to regroup and sharpen their execution as they seek to level the series at the same venue.
