Deusdedit Muhumuza, the national women’s cricket team, The Victoria Pearls coach was happy about the shift that his side put in last week, when they won all five T20 international games against Canada ranked at number 33 in the world.
But that was not for the reasons many would be looking at on the surface. More than the results that a host of cricket fans would be jubilating about, Muhumuza is focused on the fact that The Victoria Pearls are competing more frequently than ever before.
“One of the reasons why we have normally struggled in the past has been the lack of exposure and competition. There is no way you can become better as an athlete unless you compete,” Muhumuza said.
The former Cricket Cranes pace bowler said that The Victoria Pearls have so far played 80 T20 games this year of which 36 have been internationals. This has without a doubt helped his charges get used to the crease and how to apply themselves in varying situations of pressure.
Next week, Muhumuza revealed, his players will have at least four simulation matches as they prepare for the “Emerging Nations League” tournament due in Thailand next month.
While there, The Victoria Pearls, who are ranked number 18 in T20 internationals, will face the likes of Namibia, UAE, Tanzania, Netherlands, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Thailand.
In September, Uganda competed at the Africa Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers in Namibia, finishing fourth in the eight-team tournament. The Victoria Pearls actually lost the third-place playoff game against neighbours Tanzania, who set a score of 109 for a loss of five wickets in 20 overs.
While this looked a scoreline Uganda would be able to surpass, they only managed 103/10 in 19.4 overs. With two balls to go, Muhumuza expected a lot more from his charges, but he remained disappointed.
But at the same time, with his new role, he has had to learn how to be patient with the players as they continue to develop their craft.
“We have always discussed that our target in these international games must be at least 140 runs in 20 overs. I believe in the talents of my players, which is why I set them such targets because I know they are achievable. Yet, I still feel we must step up our concentration levels during games especially at the tail-end,” Muhumuza said.
Right now, Muhumuza noted that the top batting order has been doing well. But it is the middle order now that has to concentrate more. For that reason, more games are much needed. Come the end of the Thailand tour, it will be 100 games this year, which remains the target.
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