Kutchi Tigers 118/10 in 44.2 overs (Dhansuk Jesani 44(75), Kenneth Waiswa 17/3 in 6 overs, Brian Masaba 2/25 in 7 overs) lost to Aziz Damani 119/5 in 26.2 overs (Saud Islam 38(38), Dhansuk Jesani 2/20 in 8 overs) by 5 wickets
Saud Islam 38(38) helped Aziz Damani CC hunt down the below par 118/10 Kutchi Tigers set at the Lakeside oval.
Nanji Pindoria in typical style went after Bilal Hassan’s short bowling cutting him for a boundary off the first ball of the innings, but was short lived stay on the wicket as Kenneth Wiswa cleaned him up in the 9th over breaking the solid 28 run opening stand.
Bharat Ghodedra kept grinding out at the wicket with Kanti Vekaria failing to get anything way in the tight opening spell before Kenneth Waiswa struck again in quick succession to dismiss the stubborn batsmen.
Dhansuk Jesani 44(75) then did a good job of rebuilding the faltering innings, scoring four boundaries to carry the Tigers past the 50 run mark in the 19th over putting on 25 for the fourth wicket with Nandikishore Patel.
Henry Ssenyondo and Waiswa proved unplayable operating in tandem ad their discipline told in the way they strangled the Kutchi fight back in the middle overs.
Jesani laboured on but was 8th man out deceived by Leg spinner Brian Masaba with the score just past the century mark; Tikolo cleaning up the tail leaving Damani with 119 recquired to win.
The run chase began with intent, Ali Hamza picking two boundaries in the second over but a mix up in the middle left Achelam stranded, Aziz Damani gifting Kutchi Tigers their first wicket; Narendra Halai then striking next ball to leave the Damani two down in quick succession.
One drop Saud lslam however had no intentions of letting the Tigers bite back, attacking from the start and quickly putting on 47 for the third wicket with Brian Masaba. Jesani eventually picked Saud in the 14th over caught behind but the damage had already been done and a quick fall of the wickets at the end did not deter Damani from polishing off the required runs in 27th over.
