By Norbert Abbi
Results Summary
Lugogo Oval
Pioneer CC 149/4 in 33 overs (Leona Babirye 29 off 31, Kevin Awino 28 Not Out) beat Jinja SS CC 148/9 in 40 overs (Rita Musamali 41 off 57, Shubaiker Naigaga 32 off 82 ) by 6 Wickets*
Player of Match: Queentor Abel, Pioneer CC
For a team ranked as outside favourites to win the league in this year's Jazz Safari National Women's ODI league, Pioneer CC have performed well above expectations.
Pioneer currently sit unbeaten atop the league table and stretched that feat on Saturday after beating Jinja SS by six wickets with a massive 42 balls to spare. Pioneer captain, Barbara Mukankusi won the toss and elected to field first. Her plan from the onset was to bundle out Jinja SS for a small score that could be easily chased.
Jinja SS, did not start their innings well losing two wickets for a mere 22 runs. But with the introduction of Rita Musamali (41 off 57), the ship steadied a little as she managed to see them past the 100 run mark. Unfortunately, when her wicket fell, and with it, the remaining seven crumbled for a measly 42 runs.
Jinja SS managed a modest 148 with the tail contributing 13 runs for the loss of four wickets. The Jinja batting crumbled and proved no match for the bowling prowess of Abel Queentor (23/3), and Brenda Nabisalu (20/2) who tidied things when it mattered most.
Needing 149 to win, Pioneer set about getting the score with patience and counting on their experience to outsmart their opponents. The league's most inform batting pair of Leona Babirye (29) and Barbara Mukankusi (20) partnered well to contribute 51 runs in 11 overs before Barbara fell. Kevin Awino (28*), Daisy Wairimu (21) and Abel Queentor (25) all combined well to give Pioneer the win they needed.
The victory puts Pioneer CC in pole position to win the title with Olila High CC the only other team standing in their way after getting vital wins from KICC and Aziz Damani. Pioneer and Olila will square off on the 3rd of November and should Pioneer win the fixture, they will be ever close to winning the title.
