Entebbe Oval
Strikers CC Vs Tornado Bee CC
Match Summary
Strikers CC 160/10 in 43.2 overs (Perry Wazombe 33 off 28, Frank Akankwasa 31 off 61) lost to Tornado Bee CC 161/8 in 48.1 overs (Roger Mukasa 40 off 47, Baig Akbar 40 off 74) by 2 wickets
Player of match: Baig Akbar (39 off 74, 3/37 in 10 overs)
Unlike their first round fixture that was washed out, and points shared, the Bees and the Strikers met up in the second round with the Bees taking the day. Jeremy Kibukamusoke’s charges ran out eventual winners in this low scoring thriller.
The Strikers won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that held no promise for runs as evidenced by the combined total of 321 runs scored and 18 wickets felled. Strikers were 58/4 at the time the umpires called play for the drinks interval with Zephania Arinaitwe (12 in 15 balls) and Perry Wazombe (33 off 27 balls) being the major contributors.
The wickets came in fast and with precision as key wickets fell one after the other. At 96/7 in 25 overs, it seemed all over for the Strikers but the tail stayed true and strong, providing a solid 65 runs to see their team struck out at 160 all out. Captain Frank Akankwasa chose to bat down the pecking order to provide some stability and scored a 65 ball 31 runs.
The Bees got off to the chase with patience, bidding their time as cranes skipper Roger Mukasa (40 off 47 balls) and Nicholas Kebba (20 off 35 balls) providing a 64 run partnership before the latter fell. With less than 100 to win and 9 wickets in hand, the Bees looked set to win by an overwhelming margin.
Tables seemed to be turned as flames of hope wavered a little when the Bees lost another 3 wickets for only 6 runs in 36 balls leaving them at 70/4 in 18.2 overs. Coming in at number 5, man of match winner Akbar Baig helped steady the ship with his 74 ball 40. By the time his wicket fell, the Bees needed 15 runs in 38 balls, a total that Lawrence Ssematimba (28 in 71 balls) and Suleman Mwebaze (5 in 5 balls) labored to get sparing 11 balls in the process.
The win sees the Bees collect two wins from three games and also leapfrog KICC into 4th place, with 25 points. Strikers on the other hand slipped down the order into 6th with 19 points from 8 games.