Lugogo Oval
Soroti Blazers 128/7 Ivan Kakande 50 in 20 Overs beat Nyakasura 117/9 20 Overs by 11 runs
Man of Match- Ivan Kakande
Pascal Murungi and Isaac Ategeka had the wind in their sail for Nyakasura with only 30 runs needed for the win against Soroti Blazers but when the former gave away his wicket the writing was on the wall for the FortPortal team.
The school boys of Nyakasura gave Soroti Blazers a run for their money showing positivity in the 128 run chase from the onset, Robert Ajuna and Captain Brighton Musinguzi took 21 runs off the first two overs.
The over night rain coupled with the early morning down pour nearly ruined the day for the journey teams from Soroti and Fortportal due to a very wet Lugogo field. Only a galant effort by the groundsmen allowed the pitch to play and the 40 over encounter was reduced to 20 overs a side.
Nyakasura won the toss and choose to bowl first a decision that was justified by the opening bowling pair of Pascal Murungi and Ategeka Francis who gave away only 9 runs in the first 4 overs. A change in bowling got the foot off the brakes with Soroti Blazers going for the broke and opener Derrick Angatu together with the experienced Isaac Kakande who scored a half century piling on the runs for Soroti Blazers who finished on 128/7 in 20 overs.
Nyakasura was positive in the chase with Robert Ajuna and Brighton Musinguzi taking the game to the Soroti Blazers who were also guilty of putting down the pair in the first four overs. However, the loss of the pair took some steam out of the Nyakasura chase till Pascal Murungi and Isaac Ategeka met in the middle and tried to revive the chase. Isaac Ategeka played some good sweep shots while Pascal Murungi was going for power hitting the ball into the side screen, however the pressure got to the young pair who both gave away their wickets and thereafter the end was near for Nyakasura.
The blazers from Soroti walked away with an 11 run win their 2nd in the season while Nyakasura went down in their first game of the season. They will be proud of their performance and coach Ivan Thawithemwira can build on to that kind of performance going forward.
The experienced Ivan Kakande stood out scoring an important half century and also bowling a very tidy spell for his team. He will need to stand out every weekend if the blazers are to gain promotion to Div two.
