Malawi vs Uganda, 5th Place Play-off 2nd Semi-Final
Date: 2nd October 2025
Match Summary
Uganda defeated Malawi by a massive margin of 117 runs in a one-sided contest. Uganda's Sumeet Verma played a stunning knock of 88 runs off 41 balls, while Alpesh Ramjani's exceptional spell of 4 wickets for 13 runs dismantled Malawi's batting lineup. Raghav Dhawan contributed a half-century for Uganda, and Alpesh Ramjani was deservedly named Player of the Match.
Detailed Narrative
Toss and First Innings
- Uganda won the toss and elected to bat first at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.
- The opening pair got off to a steady start, but it was Sumeet Verma's explosive innings that stole the spotlight. He smashed 88 runs off 41 balls with 3 fours and 8 sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 214.63.
- Raghav Dhawan anchored the innings well, scoring 50 runs off 48 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes.
- Uganda posted an imposing total of 192/3 in their 20 overs.
Bowling and Fielding Highlights (Malawi)
- Kelvin Thuchila was economical, picking up 1 wicket for 8 runs in 3 overs.
- Daniel Jakiel took 1 wicket but conceded 38 runs in his full quota of 4 overs.
- Sami Sohail and Suhail Zahid Vayani took notable catches, contributing to the dismissals of Ronald Lutaaya and Sumeet Verma, respectively.
Second Innings
- Chasing a daunting target of 193, Malawi crumbled under pressure and managed to score only 75/6 in their 20 overs.
- Aaftab Limdawala top-scored for Malawi with 22 runs off 39 balls, but his strike rate of 56.41 highlighted the struggles of the batting unit.
- No other batter managed to cross 15 runs, except for Mike Choamba (14 runs off 20 balls) and Kazim Somani (12 runs off 15 balls).
Bowling and Fielding Highlights (Uganda)
- Alpesh Ramjani delivered a magnificent spell, picking up 4 wickets for 13 runs in his 4 overs, including the wickets of Mike Choamba and Salim Nihute. His spell broke the backbone of Malawi's batting order.
- Dinesh Nakrani also contributed with 1 wicket for 4 runs in 2 overs, showcasing his control with the ball.
- The collective bowling effort from Uganda's bowlers ensured a convincing victory.
Key Performances
- Half-Century:
- Raghav Dhawan (Uganda): 50* (48)
- Century or More:
- No centuries scored in the match.
- Best Bowling Performance:
- Alpesh Ramjani (Uganda): 4/13 in 4 overs.
Sequence of Events
- Uganda elected to bat and set a massive total of 192/3, with Sumeet Verma's explosive 88 leading the charge.
- Malawi’s bowlers, particularly Kelvin Thuchila, tried to contain the runs but couldn’t stop Uganda's onslaught.
- In the chase, Malawi lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to build any partnerships.
- Alpesh Ramjani's lethal spell of 4 wickets sealed the game for Uganda.
Final Result
Uganda won by 117 runs.
