VICTORIA TRI SERIES TEAM OF SERIES;

1. Modester Mupachikwa-+* ZIMBABWE
2. Damalie Busingye- UGANDA
3. Anesu Catherine Mushangwe- ZIMBABWE
4. Naomi Kayondo- UGANDA
5. Margaret Ngoche - KENYA
6. Immaculate Nakisuyi- UGANDA
7. Tasmeen Salima Granger- ZIMBABWE
8. Queentor Abel- KENYA
9. Nomvelo Sibanda- ZIMBABWE
10. Joyce Mary Apio- UGANDA
11. Consy Aweko- UGANDA

The Victoria Tri Series climaxed on April 11; cricclubs numbers man Alvin Bagaya and Cricket Uganda's Innocent Ndawula selected the team of the series; Numbers, indeed, don't lie!

1. Modester Mupachikwa- ZIMBABWE - Captain
Opening the batting and keeping the wickets is the combative Modester Mpachikwa, attacking anything short with poise and balance, she also showed the presence of mind to keep heer wicket intact and build useful opening stands; 51, 42, 64 and 49 in the finals with partner Anesu Catherin Mushangwe. She was easily the best keeper on display throughout the series and takes the gloves as well for the team.
Modester will also step up for the team toss as the captain for the side.

Zimbabwe's opening batter and wicket-keeper Mupachikwa showed artistry in the manner with which she expertly dispatched shot balls.

2. Damalie Busingye- UGANDA
Damalie was a stabilizing factor at the top of the Uganda innings, holding her end and rotating strike to allow her more attacking partners to do the scoring. She gets a nod as the calm accumulator to Modester’s attacking instincts on the other end of the wicket. Such was her value to the side, every time she lost her wicket, at least two quickly followed. She is picked as the glue to the batting unit nd expected to bat through the innings.

 

Uganda's opener Damalie Busingye isn't your flashy type but her array of strokes ensure that her strike-rate is more than 50%.

3. Anesu Catherine Mushangwe- ZIMBABWE
She was destructive throughout the series, involved in 3 opening stands of 51, 42, 64 and 49 for the final with partner Modester, she showed the ability to harness attack and defense and hold her stand on the wicket, a worthwhile number three to step up depending on team situation at the fall of the firs wicket.
As an all-rounder she was a priceless asset scooping woman of series for her bowling exploits, picking 3 wicket in the final with an overall economy of 3.09.
As the best player in the series she holds down the coveted no. 3 slot; the side counting on her ability to attack and stabilize innings depending on the situation at hand.

Lady Chevrons' Anesu Mushangwe turned up with both bat and ball in each of her team's matches. Deservedly the Player of the Tournament.

4. Naomi Kayondo- UGANDA
The Select side gets another bat to step in at two down, Naomi’s first series back into the Uganda side after an education hiatus has been packed with runs. After the disappointing golden duck against Kenya, she bounced back with two good scores to lift her into the top 5 batters of the tournament. She put away the bad balls without hesitation. An overall strike rate of 79 allows for her to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Naomi Kayondo showed urgency in the middle overs with her lusty appetite for the odd big hit.

5. Margaret Ngoche (Vice Captain)- KENYA
The Kenyan Captain was aggressive as ever, picking good scores batting early in the order against Uganda and Zimbabwe, unfortunate that their last fixture was washed out, she comes in at No. 5 to hold the innings together with her experience; she also takes the ball as an extra seamer in the side for the first or second change.

Kenya skipper Margaret Ngoche led from the front by opening both the bowling and batting for her side. She also threw her weight around in the outfield at almost every position.

6. Immaculate Nakisuyi- UGANDA
The all-rounder steps up at number six; early enough to bat with some top order players and probably bat through with her aggressive style with the tail. She bowled and batted herself into the top 10 players for both disciplines; her sharp fielding also a great asset to the side in the sensitive point/gully area.
Finishing the series with 7 wickets at 4.83 and 74 runs at 37, she is steps into the side as an all round asset to deepen the batting and share out the overs.

Uganda's fast-rising all-rounder Nakisuyi hardly put a foot wrong and probably didn't deserve to be on the losing side at the end of the series, if her statistics are anything to go by.

7. Tasmeen Salima Granger- ZIMBABWE
The off spinner topped the bowling charts throughout the series, control and accuracy a great asset to the side, she doesn’t try to much but gets the job done for the captain, she patrolled the deep mid wicket/deep square leg boundary with alacrity and awareness, saving the team at least 20 runs in boundaries. Tasmin bowled her side to victory scooping the best bowler award with 10 wickets at 3.44.

Zimbabwe off-spinner Tasmeen Salima Granger finished an enviable economy and strike-rate. Real T20 exponent!

8. Queentor Abel- KENYA
The all-rounder was always amongst the wickets and gets into the side for her shrp fielding in the ring and ability to step up with late order runs and break partnerships for the captain. One of the sharpest fielders on the park from day one; a blinder in covers against Uganda giving her catch of the series.

Kenyan star Abel didn't have a big tournament as per her own standards but her miserly bowling spells help her sneak into the tournament's best XI.

9. Nomvelo Sibanda- ZIMBABWE
The left arm seamer was accurate and destructive, she found her lines early in her opening spells and always pegged back opposition teams to ensure they were playing for recovery in the power play as opposed to attacking Zimbabwe. Second highest wicket taker with 8 wickets at 4.29; she takes the new ball for the captain.

Left-arm opening bowler Sibanda tore through every batting line-up that was put before her. True pace and unplayable lengths. Real gem!

10. Joyce Mary Apio.- UGANDA
Easily the perfect match and opening partner for Nomvelo, she bowled with discipline using her outswingers to good effect. With only 2 matches played she still finished the series as only the second seamer in the top 10 blowers destructive Nomvelo Sibanda. The right hand/left hand combination should serve the team well.

Joyce Mary Apio is growing her game as a late-order hitter but it is her impeccable ball-swinging abilities that win her a place into this side. Tireless body!

11. Consy Aweko- UGANDA
The off spinner joins Tasmeen Granger in the side to further suffocate opposition batters; 3 wickets at a miserly 2.25 gets her the final slot for the playing XI. She also showed her abilities for some much needed late order range hitting to find the boundary; with a worthwhile display patrolling the deep square leg region and sweeper position for her captain. Something she shares with her spin twin Granger.

Lady Cricket Cranes slow bowler Consy Aweko (R) doesn't turn the ball big but she bowls invisible lines and always returns parsimonious figures. The desire of any coach in the world. Truly invincible!



RECAP OF HOW THE TOURNAMENT'S FINAL PLAYED OUT

Victoria Tri-Series

Results – Final

Zimbabwe 118/5 Uganda 93/7

Zimbabwe won by 25 runs

 Zimbabwe delivered the killer knockout punch to win Victoria Tri Series final against Uganda by 25 runs at Lugogo Cricket Ground on April 10.

Uganda skipper Kevin Awino won the toss but that was just about it for the Lady Cricket Cranes on the day.  The visiting Lady Chevrons had been increasing the velocity of their punches with each passing game as their coach Adam Chifo looked to make them play like a well-oiled machine.

Opening batters Modester Mupachikwa (26 off 40) and Anesu Catherine Mushangwe (22 off 29) put on 49 for the first wicket in 10.4 overs to give Zimbabwe a solid start upfront. Left-hander Chipo Spiwe Tiripano (29 off 26) and captain Mary-Anne Musonda (14* off 12) made hay and Josephine Nkomo ended unbeaten on 18 as Zimbabwe ended on 118 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Uganda’s bowlers were made to toil for wickets and the bowling column showed with none picking more than one. The game remained one-way traffic as Zimbabwe controlled proceedings but for one moment when Uganda’s openers built a steady partnership.

Rachael Ntono (25 off 24) and Damalie Busingye (11 off 24) put on 38 runs in 7.3 overs but when the former departed Uganda struggled to continue making the scoreboard tick as the Zimbabweans piled on pressure with their slow bowling.

Tasmeen Salima Granger (3/17 in 4) and Mushangwe (3/12 in 4) bowled impeccable lines and earned the rewards with six scalps as Uganda lost its wheels at 57 for 5 in 12.5 overs.

By then, the end was nigh but Immaculate Nakisuyi, the 2018 Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) Female Cricketer of the Year, stroked 26 off 25 including four boundaries to ensure that Uganda reached 93 runs for 8 wickets.

As UCA chairman Bashir Ansasiira crowned Zimbabwe as champions of the inaugural and historic event, Team Uganda coaches Michael Grace Ndiko and Habibu Mugalula were left pondering where it all went wrong and what could have been.