Hosts Namibia Women will go up against Uganda Women in the 1st Twenty20 International (T20I) of the 6-match bilateral series on April 8, 2025, starting at 5:30 PM IST at the High-Performance Oval in Windhoek.
Most recently, the two teams locked horns in the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series, which took place in March 2025, Uganda Women won all three of their meetings, demonstrating their dominance in recent head-to-head matches. They won by a slim margin of 1 run on March 10, by a resounding 74-run victory on March 14, and by 8 wickets in the final on March 16.
Squads:
Namibia women’s cricket team
Bianca Manuel, Edelle Van Zyl, Sylvia Shihepo, Jurriene Diergaardt, Kayleen Green, Mekelaye Mwatile, Sune Wittmann, Wilka Mwatile, Merczerly Gorases, Yasmeen Khan, Eveleen Kejarukua, Leigh-Marie Visser, Naomi Benjamin, Saima Tuhadeleni, Victoria Hamunyela
Uganda women’s cricket team
Malisa Ariokot, Phiona Kulume, Rita Musamali, Shakirah Sadick, Stephanie Nampiina, Immaculate Nakisuuyi, Janet Mbabazi, Esther Iloku, Kevin Awino, Concy Aweko, Evelyn AnyipoIrene Mutonyi, Irene Mutonyi, Sarah Akiteng, Sarah Walaza
Players to watch out:
Sune Wittmann
The 30-year-old is one of Namibia’s most experienced and influential players. She is a true all-round player who can make an impact with the bat and the ball. She is a reliable opening batter who has achieved 1264 T20I runs, including six half-centuries and the highest of 93*. She is renowned for her ability to take important wickets in the middle overs and her disciplined medium pace with the ball. She has taken 47 wickets in all, including one five-wicket haul, maintaining an economy rate of 4.56.
Victoria Hamunyela
The 22-year-old bowler is among Namibia’s most promising players. She is a skilled spinner who is renowned for her control and precision. Hamunyela can be quite hazardous on pitches with turn or grip because it may tie down batters and force them to make mistakes. She can break partnerships at essential points in the game and has been a reliable wicket-taker. In 50 T20I innings, she has taken 54 wickets at an average of 14.25.
Janet Mbabazi
The 29-year-old is an extremely valuable all-round player for her ability to manage pressure and accelerate innings batting in the middle order. With a strike rate of 72 and the best score of 42*, she has accumulated 1029 T20I runs. She is a proficient medium pacer in addition to being a good batter. In the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series (in Uganda) 2025, she demonstrated her ability to win games by bowling an outstanding 4 wickets for 19 runs in 3 overs and has claimed 91 wickets in 71 T20I innings, at an economy rate of 4.43.
Immaculate Nakisuuyi
The 27-year-old all-rounder is crucial for Uganda with her reliability and experience in high-pressure situations. In 42 T20I innings, she has taken 47 wickets at an economy rate of 4.77, and with the bat, in 67 innings she has accumulated 1071 runs, including two half-centuries and the highest score of 68*. She won the Player of the Match at the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series Final in Entebbe, Uganda, scoring an unbeaten 30 runs off 40 balls, taking 1 wicket, and grabbing two vital catches, in Uganda’s win.
Pitch:
Both batters and bowlers should find the High-Performance Oval’s pitch to provide balanced conditions. The batters will benefit from a strong, flat pitch that lets them play their strokes freely. It would be best to select more hitters and batting all-rounders on such a surface. However, pacers could extract movement and bounce, especially with the new ball, if there is some grass cover or moisture on the field.
Weather:
The High-Performance Oval usually experiences warm weather, with cricket-friendly temperatures. In general, bowlers—especially pacers—benefit from cloudy, moderately humid weather because they create movement in the air. During the game, no significant disruptions are anticipated. The weather will continue to be clear and nice, making it perfect for a complete game of cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Sune Wittmann, Yasmeen Khan, Jurriene Diergaardt, Rita Musamali, Janet Mbabazi, Kayleen Green, Immaculate Nakisuuyi, Kevin Awino, Victoria Hamunyela, Concy Aweko, Phiona Kulume
Match details:
Date – April 8, 2025
Time – 5:30 PM IST
Venue – High Performance Oval, Windhoek, Namibia
Broadcast – Fans can watch all the live action on FanCode.
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