Star Turn. Aloysious Odoi receives his Player of the Match award from umpire Michael Okoth (L) after a brilliant all-round display powered JACC to a 44-run win over Rounders in the Division One derby at Jinja SS Oval on April 6. PHOTO/COURTESY
The second weekend was dramatically shaped by unseasonal rainfall, but it still provided plenty of action, close finishes, and significant shifts in both divisions.
Saturday, April 5 – Division Two
❌ St. John’s SS vs Mukono Development – Florida Oval
Match Abandoned – A heavy morning rainfall left the outfield at Florida Oval unplayable, forcing the highly anticipated Mukono derby to be called off. Both teams were forced to share the spoils, with one point each.
✅ Nile CC vs KC Budo – Entebbe Cricket Oval
Result: KC Budo won by 3 wickets (22 overs-a-side)
KC Budo showed resilience in the face of wet conditions, winning the toss and electing to field first. Nile’s innings were off to a slow start, losing their first wicket for just 6 runs on the board. Despite a brave 31-run effort from Samuel Agum and 29 from Sulaiman Mwebaze, Nile only managed 88/7 in their 22 overs. Leon Kigozi (3/16) and Allan Ssemakula (2/18) were the heroes with the ball for Budo.
In reply, Budo had their own challenges, but Muchiraju Sandilya’s steady knock of 38 and solid contributions from Rashid Mukasa (12) helped steer them across the line. Jimson Wankona (4/12) put up a fight with the ball for Nile, but Budo managed to chase down the target with three wickets to spare.
Sunday, April 6 – Division One & Two Mixed Bag
❌ Wanderers vs Avengers – Lugogo Oval
Match Abandoned – Persistent rain forced this Division One clash to be called off, with points shared.
❌ Kutch Tigers vs Ceylon Lions – Serenity Oval, Kamengo
Match Abandoned – Another rainy day halted this encounter, leaving both teams disappointed.
❌ SKLPS vs Mukono Warriors – Florida Oval
Match Abandoned – Heavy rain led to the abandonment of this Division Two fixture as well, with no result.
✅ GM Sugar vs Premier CC – GM Sugar Oval, Njeru
Result: GM Sugar won by 74 runs (23 overs-a-side)
GM Sugar came out on top, securing a comfortable 74-run victory over Premier CC. GM Sugar posted 173/9 in their 23 overs, with Bhavikkumar Kantilal Patel (42) and Bhaveshbai Khapabhai Patel (33) leading the charge. Despite spirited bowling efforts from Dinan Farid, Yasir Malik, and Munir Farhan, Premier were restricted to just 99/8 in 23 overs. GM Sugar’s disciplined bowling kept Premier from getting close, ensuring the home side started their campaign on a high note.
✅ Aboojo CC vs Tornado Bees – Entebbe Oval
Result: Aboojo won by 4 wickets (20 overs-a-side)
Tornado Bees’ got restricted to 88/8. Anas Baig (20) and Ismail Munir (17) were notable contributors. Aboojo’s spinners, Mathew Musinguzi, Joseph Baguma, and Lindon Mutengesa, claimed two wickets each.
In response, Aboojo managed to chase down the target with relative ease, despite a solid bowling performance from Tornado Bees’ Cyrus Kibukamusoke, who picked up 3 wickets for 15 runs. Aboojo reached 89/6 in 18.1 overs, with Pascal Murungi (26) and Brian Asaba (13) playing key roles.
✅ JACC vs Rounders – Jinja SS Oval
Result: JACC won by 44 runs (26 overs-a-side)
In an exciting Division One local derby, debutants JACC proved their mettle, defeating Rounders by 44 runs. JACC posted 126/8, with Mulongo Paul (34), Kenneth Waiswa (22), and Eddie Agaba (21) amongst the runs
Despite a strong bowling effort from Rounders, led by Mwesigwa (3/21) and Zubair (2 wickets), JACC’s disciplined bowling attack bundled out Rounders for just 81 runs in 17.1 overs. JACC’s Aloysious Odoi (3/20) and Kenneth Waiswa (3/11) delivered outstanding performances with the ball, ensuring a 44-run victory. This result catapulted JACC to the top of the Division One standings early in the season.
Standings Snapshot
Division One – After Matchday 2:
• JACC – 2 pts (Top of the table)
Division Two:
• Group A: Soroti City CC – 2 pts
• Group B: Mukono Development – 3 pts
Notable Performances
- Muchiraju Sandilya (KC Budo) – Game-high 38 runs under pressure
- Wankona Jimson (Nile CC) – 4 wickets in a losing cause
- Bhavikkumar Patel (GM Sugar) – Classy 42 anchors big win
- Aloysious Odoi (JACC) – All-round performance including 3 wickets for 20 runs
Looking Ahead
Matchday 3 promises to bring more clarity to the early-season form book as title hopefuls seek to shake off the weather blues and stamp their authority on the league. With teams like JACC, Aboojo, and GM Sugar starting strong, the competition looks set to intensify in the coming weeks.
#LycaConnectsCricket
