Cameroon fast bowler Maeva Douma, playing in the Women's T20 World Cup African region qualifier against Uganda in Gaborone on Sunday, ran four of the opposition batters out backing up at the non-striker's end.
With Uganda in a dominant position at 153 for 1 in 15.3 overs after opting to bat, Douma ran opening batter Kevin Awino out first. In the last ball of the same over, top scorer Rita Musamali was also dismissed in a similar manner for 59. Douma returned to dismiss two more batters - Immaculate Nakisuuyi and Janet Mbabazi - in the 20th over, reducing Uganda to 186 for 6. Uganda finished with 190 for 6 after 20 overs.
This, however, didn't turn out to be much of a setback for Uganda, as they bowled Cameroon out for 35 off 14.3 overs for a 155-run win. Concy Aweko was the pick of the bowlers as she took 3 for 4 in her four overs.
While the rare mode of dismissal is well within the laws of cricket, it has often sparked a debate regarding the spirit of the game. But the dismissals did not appear to evoke any strong reactions from the Uganda batters on the field.
Cameroon, along with Botswana and Eswatini, are competing in an ICC event for the first time. Cameroon, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda are placed in Group B in the 11-team tournament, which will end on September 19. Uganda are currently leading the group table at four points, with two wins in three games.
As a result of a Cameroon player testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival in Gaborone on September 8, the whole squad was placed in isolation until Saturday and were re-tested, after which their campaign got on the road.