Allure Of Runs: Kenyan batsmen Emmanuel Bundi (L) and skipper Shem Obado Ngoche complete a quick single against Uganda in Game 2 of the Derby Trophy series that Uganda dominated and won by 9 wickets at the University Oval in Kyambogo on Sunday September 5. PHOTO/EDDIE CHICCO
BY INNOCENT NDAWULA
DERBY TROPHY RESULTS
Saturday, September 4
Kenya 306/7 Uganda 228/10 (46.2 overs)
Kenya won by 78 runs
Sunday, September 5
Kenya 85/10 (29 overs) Uganda 87/1 (12.1 overs)
Uganda won by 9 wickets
TODAY’S FIXTURE – GAME THREE
10am: Uganda vs. Kenya
University Oval, Kyambogo
KADUNA STATE TOUR OF UGANDA
Friday, September 3 (50 overs)
Uganda U19s 140/10 (41.3 overs) Kaduna State 134/6 [130]
Kaduna State won by 4 wickets (DLS)
Saturday, September 4 (50 overs)
Kaduna State 170/8 Uganda U19s 188/9 [193]
Kaduna State won by 4 runs [DLS]
Monday, September 6 (T20)
Kaduna State 134/7 Uganda U19s 87/4 [94] [13 overs]
Kaduna State won by 6 runs [DLS]
Uganda not only showed their bouncebackability but also how clinical they can be on the day with an emphatic 9-wicket win over Kenya to draw three-match Derby Trophy level at Kyambogo Oval on Sunday, September 5th, 2021.
Kenya registered an authoritative 78-run win in the opening match on Saturday (September 4th) but they were never in control of things in the second match as Uganda crossed the finish line in quick to time to set-up a much-anticipated series decider today (Tuesday September 6th) at Kyambogo Oval.
Playing their first matches on this prolonged tour that will also see Nigeria arrive on September 9th for the launched Pearl of Africa Twenty20 Tri Series, left-arm seamers Charles Waiswa and Jonathan Ssebanja made their presence felt with the new ball as they combined for six wickets that had Kenya tottering at 78 for 6 before finally getting bowled out for 85 runs in just 29 overs.
Incisive spells
Waiswa, returning for his first national team assignment since December 2019 when Uganda finished with a flawless 10 points from five matches at the first leg of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket Challenge League (WCCL) League B at the scenic Al Almerat Grounds in Muscat - Oman, deservedly scooped the Man of Match (MOM) Award with two incisive spells that saw him finished with remarkable figures of 4 wickets for 15 runs in 7 overs.
But it, too, could have been Ssebanja’s day as he consistently beat both edges of Kenyan batsmen’s willows. The multi-talented Ssebanja finished with figures 2 wickets for 10 runs in 6 overs including three eyeful maidens.
Only two Kenyan batsmen managed double figures; Rushab Mukhi Patel with 30 runs off 37 balls and Gurdeep Bhagat Singh with 11 runs off 36 balls as the other Ugandan bowlers; Dinesh Nakrani (2 for 35 in 7 overs), Riazat Ali Shah (1 for 11 in 6 overs) and Henry Ssenyondo (1 for 4 in 3 overs) ran rings around the deflated opposition.
Waiting In The Ranks: Left-arm orthodox spinner Gerald Mubiru (L) is yet to get his chance whereas left-hand opening batsman Simon Ssesazi (C) and opening bowler Harsh Panchal (R) didn't fare too well in the opening game against Kenya at Kyambogo Oval. The trio will want to feature in coach Mahatlane's plans today. PHOTO/EDDIE CHICCO
Easy chase
The chase was one-way traffic with opening batsman Saud Islam (40 runs off 29 balls) and Ronak Patel (35 runs off 38 balls) finishing unbeaten as Uganda raced to 87 for 1 in 12.1 overs to clinch a resounding victory in-front of small crowd observing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the authorities and Ugandan government at the University Oval in Kyambogo.
The only wicket to fall in Uganda’s innings was that of left-hander Shahzad Kamal (1 runs off 6 balls) who fell while looking to muscle a short delivery from Emmanuel Bundi over covers. Unfortunately, his shot was hit straight to Zahid Abbas’ throat who clung on.
Talking tactics
It will be interesting to see which Playing XIs both coaches Laurence Mahatlane of Uganda and Kenyan David Obuya go for in today’s winner-takes-it-all rubber.
It is going to be an either go big or go home affair with both sides going for the jugular despite their coaches continuing to preach squad rotation and giving more chances to the fringe and upcoming players in either set-up.
Obuya will without doubt summon his top scorers from the first game; Uganda-based Alex Obanda and wicket-keeper batsman Irfan Karim to add depth to captain Shem Obado Ngoche’s batting arsenal that was left short of ideas a Ugandan-attack that was packed with left-arm bowlers.
For Mahatlane, it will be interesting on who he opts for with 18 players itching to have a go again. Only paceman young Richard Agamire and left-arm orthodox spinner Gerald Mubiru are yet to have a go in the series.
A sure cracker this series clincher is going to serve up!