2025 UCA NATIONAL MEN’S 50 OVER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 9 PREVIEW
Sunday, June 1, 2025
THE BUILD-UP!
As the second round of the 2025 UCA National Men’s 50 Over League kicks off, every fixture now carries heightened consequence. Matchday 9 serves up revived rivalries, relegation dogfights, and table-topping collisions across Division One and Two. Expect emotions, strategy, and big moments.
SUNDAY – JUNE 1st, 2025 – DIVISION ONE FIXTURES
Wanderers vs Avengers – Lugogo Cricket Oval – 10am
Survival Scrap: Loser Risks The Drop
Rain ruined the first-leg meeting, but there’s no hiding now. With both sides tied on 3 points (1W, 1NR, 4L), this bottom-of-the-table clash carries serious relegation implications.
Wanderers finally tasted victory last weekend, downing Rounders by 25 runs - thanks in large part to a composed half-century on debut from Cricket Cranes hopeful Vamsi Krishna. Avengers, on the other hand, fell agonizingly short in a 3-wicket loss to Ceylon Lions, undone by inconsistency in the death overs. With pressure mounting and net run rates in play, every over matters.Gritty fight looms.
Aboojo vs Ceylon Lions – Entebbe Cricket Oval – 10am
Momentum vs Top Form
Ceylon Lions dominated the reverse fixture in April, thrashing Aboojo by 106 runs on the back of a blistering 111 from Robinson Obuya. Aboojo now seek redemption - and to prove last week’s upset over defending champs Kutchi Tigers was no flash in the pan.
The Lions are top of the table (9pts from 6 matches) and bolstered by Kenyan all-rounder Ken Mwangi and keeper-batter Hamza Mohamed from the Omtex Academy in India. Aboojo (6pts) surged to fourth after taking down Kutchi with a balanced performance driven by youth and experience. With form on both sides, this one promises fireworks at the lakeside oval in Entebbe.
JACC vs Rounders – Jinja SS Cricket Oval – 10am
The Jinja Derby, Reloaded
The first round ended with a 44-run JACC win - but the landscape has shifted. JACC (3rd, 6pts) are reeling from a narrow loss to Kutchi Tigers, while Rounders (6th, 4pts) were stunned by Wanderers.
JACC are still in the title race; Rounders risk falling into the relegation quagmire. Missing former Cricket Cranes skipper Brian Masaba (now on coaching duties with Victoria Pearls in Kigali) makes Rounders vulnerable in both leadership and batting.
Expect a tense, emotional affair as bragging rights and league survival converge in Jinja.
Kutchi Tigers vs Tornado Bee – Serenity Oval, Kamengo – 10am
Redemption mission for Kutchi, warning signs from Tornado
Kutchi Tigers were unbeaten until Matchday 8. Aboojo exposed cracks with a 7-wicket humbling, and now the Tigers (2nd, 9pts) must bounce back to keep pace at the top.
Tornado Bee (5th, 4pts) are quietly dangerous, coming off a solid win over Avengers. Their bowling unit is clicking, and they’ll remember losing to Kutchi by 26 runs in the first leg - eager to flip the script.
Can Kutchi respond like champions, or will Tornado Bee spring another surprise at Kamengo?
SUNDAY – JUNE 1st, 2025 – DIVISION TWO FIXTURES
Patidar vs Nile – Florida Oval – 10am
Old foes, new stakes
It’s one of Division Two’s most storied rivalries. From Nile’s 2012 upset to Patidar’s 286-run vengeance in 2018, this fixture is always explosive.
Nile are on a high after crushing Jinja SS by 205 runs behind Robert Ajuna’s century. They sit 3rd in Group A, just above Patidar (4th), who lost to Soroti City by 40 runs last week.
Playoff hopes hinge on consistency - and neither team can afford another slip. Expect tempers, talent, and tight margins at Florida Oval.
Saturday – May 31, 2025: Jinja SS vs Budo – Jinja SS Oval – 10am
Last chance saloon
Two struggling sides meet in a do-or-die Group A clash. Jinja SS, winless in four, are desperate to break their duck after forfeiting their last outing’s fixture against Kutchi Tigers B.
Budo haven’t fared much better. A 68-run defeat to the same Tigers has left them reeling in 5th place with just 2 points from 3 games - two above the hosts.
It’s now or never. The loser could be out of playoff contention, while the winner claws back belief. Expect raw nerves, risky shots, and a tense atmosphere at the Jinja SS Oval.
GM Sugar vs Mukono Warriors – GM Sugar Oval – 10am
Clash of the unbeaten
A first-time face-off that feels like a final. GM Sugar, the Group B surprise package, are flying high with three straight wins - topping the group with 6 points. Their latest: a brutal 170-run demolition of SKLPS.
Mukono Warriors are right behind with 5 points from three games, after routing St. John’s SS by 140 runs. Their blend of youth and experience makes them a tough nut to crack.
With playoff positioning on the line, expect a fierce contest. Middle-over control and sharp fielding will be key. A slip here could mean second place - and a harder road ahead.
FINAL WORD
Matchday 9 has all the ingredients: top-of-the-table thrillers, derby day drama, and survival six-pointers. Will Ceylon Lions stay top? Can Kutchi Tigers respond? Will Wanderers or Avengers avoid the trapdoor? Division One sees heavyweights tested, while Division Two serves up rivalries and unbeaten runs. Sunday will write another thrilling chapter in Uganda’s cricket season.
STAY TUNED
Catch live match updates, highlights & exclusive reactions all weekend:
X: @CricketUganda | Website: www.ugandacricket.com
#LycaConnectsCricket
