By Innocent Ndawula

RESULTS – FINAL

Soroti Challengers 102/6 Aziz Damani 103/1

(Damani won by 9 wickets)

SEMIFINALS

KICC 53/10 Aziz Damani 54/0

(Damani won by 10 wickets)

Olila 76/6 Soroti Challengers 79/6

(Soroti Challengers won by 4 wickets)

CHAMPIONS ROSTER

2019: Aziz Damani

2018: Aziz Damani

2017: Olila High School

2015: Jinja Sec. School

2014: Jinja Sec. School

2013: Wanderers

2012: Charity Trust Fund

 INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

Best Batter: 

Janet Mbabazi (Soroti Challengers) - 270 runs

Best Bowler:

Immaculate Nakisuyi (Aziz Damani) - 22 wickets

Best Fielder:

Rita Musamali (Aziz Damani) - 12 dismissals

Best Wicket Keeper:

Mary Kagoya (Aziz Damani) - 28 dismissals

Player of Series:

Immaculate Nakisuyi (Aziz Damani) - 183 runs and 22 wickets

Aziz Damani Ladies Cricket Club are champions yet again.

In a tournament played earlier than usual to help the national women’s team – The Lady Cricket Cranes - prepare for International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Women Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe from May 3-13, Yusuf Nanga’s girls made hay by notching their second Mehta Premier League title.

Damani’s triumph was a bit historic as they became the second club to defend the title after Jinja Secondary School who did the back-to-back double in 2014 and 2015. In the final, Aziz Damani showed they are truly dominant force by brushing aside surprise package Soroti Challengers by nine wickets at Lugogo Cricket Ground on April 13.

Soroti Challengers got perfect consolation after upstaging many traditional sides to finish second in their debut topflight season.

Like last year, Immaculate Nakisuyi, who has now been elevated to the captain’s role,  scooped the Woman of Series accolade for her consistent displays and her newfound prowess with ball standing out more this time round as she also picked the Best Bowler’s Award.

“I feel very happy,” said Nakisuyi moments after trophy celebrations with the club CEO Siva Koti.

“It’s not been easy,” stated the 23-year-old after having contributed 183 runs and 22 wickets with her off-spin.

She actually walked to the podium without the emcee of the day mentioning her name. Such was her influence it clearly showed how much she owned the stage in the shorter code tourney.

“When I am playing here, people know the way I play and expect a lot. The opponents place people in positions where I play my shots. But I am grateful that I have been able to pull it off,” she remarked.

Banja’s day

But while reigning the reigning Female Cricketer of the Year retained her gong, the day belonged to someone else.

Her teammate Kenya skipper Margaret Banja played the biggest role to help Damani chase a target of 103 runs set by Challengers inside 15.1 overs.

The experienced Kenyan opener was dropped four times and she made Soroti Challengers’ feeble fielding pay with 10 boundaries in a quick-fire half-century of 64 runs off 48 balls to leave the latter’s bowlers Mary Akello, Janet Mbabazi, Christine Anayo, Florence Atiang and Kevin Auro in disbelief and fans in awe.

Kenya skipper Margaret Banja Ngoche made the difference for Aziz Damani with 10 boundaries.

Challengers’ captain Kevin Awino had set a firm foundation with 35 runs off 42 balls but the batting line-up melted under Nakisuyi’s control (3/25) to set 102-6.

“We had lost morale inside the first six overs but later we got our momentum,” said Nakisuyi before crediting Banja.

“Banja helped us with a 64 off a few balls. As a senior, she kept pushing the rest of us to do better.”

Earlier in the day, Banja shone alongside fellow opener Ritah Musamali as they chased down Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC) paltry 54 in the first semifinal played at Lugogo.

Rita Musamali was happy to play second fiddle in both the semifinal and final with two steady unbeaten knocks. She also won the Best Fielder's gong.

In the other semifinal, Soroti Challengers captain Mbabazi stood as her side stunned Oligh High Cricket Club by four wickets in the second semifinal played at Kyambogo Oval.