Heartbeat rates for Charity Trust Fund’s players are now back to normal after they completed the gruesome Jazz Safari Men’s 50-Over Division Two League in second position.
And not just that, the club also sealed promotion back to the topflight with a seven-wicket victory over Africa Cricket Club (ACC) at Budo on Sunday. This sense of renewed hope comes within seven months since Charity were relegated to the lower tier in 2015.
Many will put that demotion to the absence of experienced Jonathan Ssebanja, who was in UK for a semi-professional stint at the time.
Even this year, Ssebanja returned to Europe but Charity management led by Patrick Luyinda were wise enough to fill his void with Singh brothers Narinder and Varinder.
“We are now a Division One outfit,” Varinder said after scoring a decisive century of 111* runs as they ably chased a target of 239 to beat 2007 topflight champions ACC. “I was unlucky for a couple of games but this time round, I took my time and avoided a run-out.” The 22-year-old’s ton, eighth overall of the season, ensured he finished the season with 396 runs from 10 innings and 20 wickets.
He hopes to snatch the MVP Award. And now back to the big stage, Varinder expects more. “We are not a bad side. A couple of new signings will make us even better,” he added.
Only a week after losing to Division Two champions Aziz Damani, Varinder (3/46) and Narinder (4/59) enjoyed their spells with the balls. But ACC’s Amos Kyazze (30 off 57), skipper Richard Lwamafa (43 off 37) and Brian Kiiza (27 off 23) stuck on the crease like gum to sneak to a respectable total.
Charity lost their openers in 5.1 overs but Varinder had other ideas. He made six boundaries and five maximums off 62 balls and shared an uninterrupted fifth-wicket combo of 176 runs with Lawrence Ssempijja (69* off 75).
Men’s div 2 results
SKLPS 115/10 Premier 117/8
(Premier won by two wickets)
ACC 238/10 Charity TF 240/3
(Charity TF won by seven wickets)
Jinja SS 155/10 Aziz Damani 156/5
(Damani won by five wickets)
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