Results summary:
Strikers 131/9 in 19.3 overs (Olipa rogers 28 off 17 balls, sirajje Nsubuga 19 off 28, Girish Nasta 3/19 in 4 overs) beat avengers 104/10 in 20 overs (Arun Panchal 16 off 13 balls, Sirajje Nsubuga 3/20 in 4 overs, Richard Agamiire 2/13 in 4 overs)
Man of Match: Sirajje Nsubuga
Upon winning the toss, Avengers weighed their chances and sent strikers in to bat with every bit of intention to limit them to a small score. With a dull morning weather and dump wicket, in the avengers set out onto field in hope to earn their first points on merit that being against a wounded strikers who had registered two losses the previous weekend!
Simon peter Okecho 11(13) opened the batting with Zephania Arinaitwe 0(5) with the latter not troubling the score as Girish Nasta struck early in the first over to claim the first wicket. Arun Panchal mounted more pressure on the other end with the ball ensuring two more wickets in a space of just 3 overs. Sirajje Nsubuga, Rogers Olipa 28(17) and frank Akankwasa 18(18) in the middle did the significant work dragging the strikers to a meagre 131.
Avengers kicked off the chase with high momentum before the openers Hamza Mehmood 15(21) and Yash Bhatt 15(22) fell to Sirajje N and Rogers Olipa respectively. It’s only Alpha Adowa 12(15), Arun Panchal 16(12) and Utkarsh Kotharia 10(15) who offered some resistance before avengers collapsed at 103 all out courtesy of some tactical bowling efforts from Richard Agamire and spinner Frank Akankwasa.
Afternoon game
Strikers 112/7 in 19.3 overs (Ivan Thawithemwira 40 off 43, Simon P Okecho 24 off 18, Emmy Odeng 2/24 in 4 overs, Amos Kyazze 2/19 in 4 overs) beat ACC 111/6 in 20 overs (Amos Kyazze 21 off 30 balls, Robert Okot 26 off 16 balls, Frank Akankwasa 2/16 in 3 overs, Simon P Okecho 2/18 in 4 overs.) by 3 wickets.
Unimoni player of match: Ivan Thawithemwira
ACC won the toss and chose to bat first against the strikers. Daniel Batuwa 14(11) and Jjunju Gadafi 5(11) opened the batting for ACC before both falling to off-spinner Frank Akankwasa just before the end of power-play.
Emmy Odeng 17(13) looked to be much of a threat to the spin bowlers as he went straight hard at them (hitting a maximum and two boundaries before he fell to rogers Olipa (bowled). Amos Kyazze 20(32) tried to stick on before he got stumped by Ivan Thawi off Simon Okecho’s leg-spin. Robert Okoth was acc’s hitter of the day (hitting 2 maximums out the ground and 2 boundaries) before getting caught in the deep by Perry Wazombe off Sirajje Nsubuga’s leg-spin. Micheal Kintu 6(8) and trevor Kapere 6(11) finished it off both not-out.
With just 112 set as target, ACC scared to deny the strikers victory in the low scoring thriller as the bowlers got crucial quick wickets. Strikers lost both openers Zephania Arinaitwe 6(3) and Perry Wazombe 0(1) in the first over to Emmy Odengs’ searing swinging pace.
However, Ivan Thawithemwira who stood out and calmed the pressure with an extremely tactical but patient 40 off 43 balls that gave strikers the stability that allowed the other batsmen to attack with much ease. Simon Okecho 24(18), Frank Akankwasa 12(14) and Derrick Bakunzi 10(16) contributed significantly at the back-end to ensure a last-over victory for strikers.