Date: 8th April 2018
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Ground: Kyambogo Oval
FORM GUIDE
CEYLON LIONS CC: FIRST GAME
K.I.C.C: L
Charity C.C had to go through the usual boardroom rigmarole to get a right to participate in the 2018 Jazz safari men’s cricket season as Ceylon Lions, the paperwork done it is game time; Club Patron Ruwan Jayaratne, the Sri Lankan born Engineer/Restaurateur is an ardent fan and player of the game; his passion blossoming into a cricket Club.
Ceylon Lions Patron Ruwan Jayaratne; “we are a good side looking to play positive cricket and make an impact!"
K.I.C.C has assembled a great spin bowling unit but will likely struggle to back it up with consistent batting.
K.I.C.C captain Hanumant Katkar; “this is a must win match for us to get back into the title race”
If Kyambogo oval remains as true as its display in the Saudi Arabia tour, Sunday promises to be a run fest for those that show up famished for the grand occasion.
The Lions will take on the field with embattled national team top order batsman Arnold Otwane and young off spinner Arya Parikh signed on from relegated Nile C.C among the notable signings.
Key Players:
Arnold Otwani;
393 runs at 33.00 with a strike rate of 78% and highest score of 106 in the 2017 season, he is without a shade of doubt the spear head of the batting attack. Arnold knows he must carry the team as he does not have the luxury and batting depth he enjoyed at Aziz Damani CC.
His wicket just went up a few more bars at the auction.
Simon Ssesazi;
The left hand National Team Opener has enjoyed some success at the top of the innings for Uganda over the last two months, not as bounteous as his talent suggests, but a level lower to the league should then help the judges decide how far along he has come.
Simon brings on board the ability to bat long and bat teams out of trouble or ahead of the oncoming trouble.
Aarya Parikh
The off spinner developed some good skill at Nile C.C; where he had the opportunity to be used as a front line bowler at a young age. An asset for his ability to give the ball good raves for turn that is not too common on the league.
This experience garnered at Nile CC will be tested fully as he has now progressed to the more competitive ranks of high end cricket where his mentors at Nile are long gone and the arena is only for those that can keep their wits about them when the ship is in stormy waters.
Aarya brings good lines and dip with his off spin, he won’t be driven easily and he will trouble opposition with the amount of turn he can get off the wicket.
Irfan Afridi;
The mystery spinner was not very successful in his first league outing of 2018 in Entebbe, picking only one wicket as KICC went down to Challengers. If his form in the Saudi Arabia Series where he managed (7-2-7-3) in one match is anything to go by, then the Ceylon Lions must dig deep to see him off.
Frank Nsubuga and Davis Karashani;
The twin off spin duo have long shared attacking and defensive spells for Uganda, though both have gone quiet on the local scene in league impact with new comers Ssenyondo and Afridi Irfan taking the mantle, there is a hunger in regrouping that should likely drive them back to championship spells.
The strong top order batting of Ceylon Lions C.C and the spin arsenal of K.I.C.C will be the battle at Kyambogo Oval.
