By Anas Ahmed 
Uganda kept their unbeaten streak alive in the 2025 Pearl of Africa T20I Series with a nail-biting 8-run victory over the UAE at the Entebbe Cricket Oval. In a match that swung both ways, it was Alpesh Ramjani’s dynamic all-round effort that once again proved to be the difference for the hosts.
After being sent in to bat, Uganda found themselves under early pressure. However, Raghav Dhawan (56 off 41) brought composure to the middle order before Ramjani exploded with a 34-ball 61, hammering eight boundaries and a six to push Uganda to a solid 170/7 from 20 overs.
UAE’s bowling was sharp in patches. Akif Raja (2/31) and Haider Ali (2/37) took crucial wickets, but they couldn’t quite contain Uganda in the death overs.
UAE’s Response Falls Short Despite Early Charge
Chasing 171, UAE came out swinging, led by Muhammad Waseem’s 25 off 12 balls. Ethan D’Souza (32 off 17) also looked dangerous, but Uganda’s spinners clawed things back. A late cameo from Saghir Khan (28 off 16)* threatened to snatch the match, but disciplined death bowling ensured Uganda held on.
Dinesh Nakrani (2/24) and Frank Nsubuga (2/31) delivered under pressure, while Ramjani chipped in with a key breakthrough at a critical moment.
Uganda: The Team to Beat
With this result, Uganda tighten their grip on the Pearl of Africa Series standings, showing strong resilience and team unity. Ramjani’s form, coupled with reliable support from the bowling unit, underlines why Uganda is becoming a rising force in associate cricket.
Final Score Summary:
Uganda: 170/7 (Ramjani 61, Dhawan 56)
UAE: 162/9 (D’Souza 32, Saghir 28*)
Uganda win by 8 runs
Player of the Match:
Alpesh Ramjani – 61 (34) & 1/33 (4 overs)