By Faith Munezero
Game 1 - Lugogo Oval
Kutchi Tigers 156/8 in 20 overs (Ankesh Vekaria 51 Off 35 balls, Chintan Kerai 33 Off 25 balls; Fahad Saiq 4/18 in 4 overs) beat Tornado Bees 131/8 in 20 overs (Samuel Kett 36 Off 42, Lubega Abdallah 25 off 20 balls; Nanji Pindoriya 2/22 in 4 overs, Vanish Vekariya 2/12 in 2 overs) by 25 runs.
Man Of Match: Ankesh Vekariya (51 off 35 balls)
Game 2: Lugogo Oval
Kutchi Tigers 169/4 in 20 overs (Kalpesh Jesani 61 Off 43 balls, Ankash Vekariya 43 Off 22 balls; Derrick Bwire 2/24 in 4 overs) beat Tornado Bees 159/7 in 20 overs (Samuel Kett 42 Off 46, David Musoke 35 off 24 balls; Kanti Vekariya 2/12 in 4 overs) by 10 runs.
Man Of Match: Kalpesh Jesani (61 off 43 balls)
Game 1 - Kyambogo Oval
KICC 140/8 in 20 overs (Suleiman Sharif 38 Off 28, Simon Ssesazi 36 Off 35 balls; Saud Islam 2/20 In 4 overs, Isaneez Emmanuel 2/33 in 4 overs) lost to Aziz Damani 144/3 in 16.4 overs (Roger Mukasa 74 Off 53, Fred Achelam 48* Off 36 balls; Deus Muhumuza 2/7 in 3 overs) by 7 wickets.
Man Of Match: Roger Mukasa (74 off 53 balls)
Game 2: Kyambogo Oval
Aziz Damani 145/6 in 20 overs (Saud Islam 44 Off 29, Fred Achelam 38 Off 32; Irfan Afridi 2/21 in 4 Overs, Suleiman Sharif 2/23 in 3 overs) beat KICC 129/9 in 20 overs (Deus Muhumuza 46 off 47 balls; Henry Senyondo 4/15 in 4 overs) by 16 runs.
Man Of Match: Saud Islam (44 off 29 balls)
Game 1 - Entebbe Oval
Challengers 106/4 in 20 overs (Steven Wabwose 37 Off 47, Aneef Mohamed 24 Off 31; Innocent Mwebaze 2/17 in 4 overs) beat Patidar Samaj 72/9 in 18.1 overs (Ankit Patel 13 Off 13, Derrick Bakunzi 12 Off 16; Gerald Mubiru 3/13 in 4 overs, Aneef Mohammed 3/15 in 4 overs) by 34 runs.
Man Of Match: Aneef Mohammed (3/15 in 4 overs)
Game 2 - Entebbe Oval
Patidar Samaj 56/9 in 18 overs (Ali Dishan Karmali 14 Off 23; Gerald Mubiru 4/10 in 4 overs) lost to Challengers 59/1 in 6 overs (Shazad Karmal 32 Off 20; Amar Lakhani 1/8 In 1 over) by 9 wickets.
Man Of Match: Gerald Mubiru (4/10 in 4 overs)
Thrilling does little to describe what the previous weekend was like on the local cricket scene. Action was thick and fast, especially in the National Men’s Division One Twenty 20 League. What more could anyone have asked for with a big city derby between Aziz Damani and the Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC), a tightly contested game between Kutchi Tigers and Tornado Bees and a potential skirmish between as Challengers hosted potential banana skins Patidar Samaj.
Bees fail to sting Tigers in close shaves
Other than the rubber against Patidar Samaj, Kutchi Tigers have hit a bit of a slump this season with losses in almost every game - a fate that Tornado Bees have endured thus far. But the depleted Tornado Bees showed remarkable signs of turning the corner in their respective 25 runs and 10 runs slim losses to Kutchi Tigers on the day.
In the morning, both teams lost eight wickets in their innings, with Ankesh Vekariya scoring the only half ton of the day while Fahad Saiq's four wickets helped Tornado Bees limit the set score to 157 runs. In a determined chase, Samuel Kett and Abdallah Lubega led their team through the bulk of the innings with Nanji Pindoriya and Vekariya leading the bowling attack, defending their score all the way to the last over.
The afternoon was even more heated, with the Kutchi Tigers opting to bat again, they set a comfortable score of 169/4, one that the Bees chased with all intent, led by Samuel Kett's near half century together with David Musoke. But yet again, the Bees weren't able to fully take it - agonisingly falling short by a meagre 10 runs.
Damani dwarfs KICC in thrilling derby
The two teams last met in the final of the Unimoni National T20 Cup and KICC was itching to avenge their only loss that entire tournament.
However Damani seemed ready to take them on. Choosing to bat first, KICC posted 140 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. New signing Roger Mukasa fresh from a semi-professional stint in the Elite Player Series in Singapore, top scored with 74 off 53 balls, with a significant contribution from Fred Achelam (48 off 36).
KICC's top fielding and bowling attack made the Damani batsmen work for the first 100 runs, but the tide changed in the 14th over. With 45 runs left, Mukasa scored a quick 21 runs (that included two sixes and one boundary) off 6 balls to effectively reduce their target and put them in the driver's seat. Deus Muhumuza’s crucial two wickets helped stall the damage by Mukasa, however by the 15th over a win was already looking likely for Damani.
The second game was even more entertaining with Damani opting to bat first this time round. They set a similar score of 145/5 in 20 overs, taking full advantage of quick running between wickets and the slightest fumble to get in that extra run. Mukasa's wicket, in particular, had two fielders collide but steady hands held it tight to keep him from repeating his morning heroics.
Lawrence Ssempijja struck with a perfectly timed catch off Saud Islam's return shot to stop him at 44 off 25 balls. The pressure seemed to get to Damani though, with Suleiman Sharif picking two wickets in a single over.
KICC started with intent, despite being at 29/3 in the third over. With Deus Muhumuza coming in at number four, he and Arthur Ziraba begun to build rhythm. But four overs later, the wickets begun to fall again, losing three in the next three overs. Muhumuza together with Frank Nsubuga, they built a 41-run partnership in the next six overs before the former was caught. With a required run rate of over 11, Charles Waiswa and Emmanuel Isaneez seamlessly ensured victory with the ball for a 16-run win.
Challengers outmuscle Patidar in Entebbe
It was an easy victory for the Challengers who faced Patidar Samaj at the lakeside oval in Entebbe. In a low-scoring game, Patidar managed four wickets; two courtesy of Innocent Mwebaze with Challengers' Aneef Mohammed and Steven Wabwose piling most of the runs.
The second innings saw wickets fall quickly in quick style for the Patidar side, with Gerald Mubiru and man of the match Aneef bagging three apiece hence to successfully defending their score and win by 34 runs.
The afternoon game was so short that it was done and dusted within 24 overs. Opting to field first, Patidar was bundled out for 56 runs with Gerald Mubiru starring for Challengers with impeccable figures of 4/10 in 4 overs. The easy target was reached in just six overs, with beautiful strokemaker Shahzad Kamal top scoring as Patidar only had one wicket to celebrate.
