TANZANIA U-19 men's cricket squad suffered a four-wicket loss to Uganda Emerging XI in the fourth clash of the 2025 Easter Youth ODI Series tie in Kampala last week.

The Easter Youth ODI Series, featuring three teams, offered an opportunity for Tanzania U-19 and Uganda U-19 cricketers to shape up for the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier Africa Division 1, set to take place in Nigeria next month. 

Tanzania U-19 battled hard but fell short when confronting the more experienced Uganda Emerging XI, made up of a mixture of experienced cricketers and competent youthful players.

A Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) official noted that it was a competitive effort exhibited by Tanzania U-19, but Uganda Emerging XI claimed the four-wicket victory in the series' encounter.

Batting first, Tanzania U-19 put up a fighting total of 204 runs all out in 49.5 overs, with Mohamed Simba leading the charge with 59 off 71 balls.

Dylan Manish (44 off 31) and Omary Ramadhani (22 off 38) also chipped in with encouraging performances.

Uganda Emerging XI’s bowling, led by Mathew Musinguzi (3/13) and Fortunate Aljuna (3/42), kept Tanzania U-19 cricketers in check.

Chasing 205 runs to come out victorious, Uganda Emerging XI reached 205/6 in just 33 overs, with Charles Musemeza (78 off 73) and Anas Baig (49 off 35) driving their innings forward.

Raymond Francis fought hard with the ball for Tanzania U-19, taking three wickets for 64 runs.

Augustine Mwamele (1/18) and Hamza Ally (1/33) moreover picked up key breakthroughs.

According to the TCA officer, it was a match full of learning moments, and the Tanzania U-19 team remains determined to bounce back stronger in the upcoming games.

A day earlier, Tanzania U-19 lost to Uganda U-19 by 50 runs in the third tie at the Lugogo Oval.

The Olipa Gerald-led Uganda U-19 amassed 261/6 in the scheduled 50 overs once they took the crease first.

Having been presented with the tricky challenge of chasing the huge total, Tanzania U-19 captained by Manish, ended up notching 211/10 in 46.1 overs.

Significant contribution at the crease was showcased by Acrey Pascal (58 runs) and Manish, with the latter blasting 48 runs.

The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier (formerly ICC Africa U-19 Championships) is a series of regular cricket tournaments organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for Under-19 teams from its African member nations.

It is the regional qualifier for the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

The initial tournament was staged in 2001 but did not return until 2007.

During the interim years, a joint competition with the East Asia-Pacific Cricket Council was held.

A second division was added in 2009 providing affiliate nations with a chance to participate.

After the first edition, two teams were promoted, but since then only one team has moved between divisions.

The two divisions are played at different times and in different locations.

The current champions are Namibia, who won the 2023 tournament in Tanzania to qualify for the 2024 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Namibia have won seven titles, the most of any team, while Uganda have won twice.

Other teams, Kenya and Nigeria, have lifted the continental showdown's top honour once apiece.