By Faith Munezero
Fixtures - Sunday, 7th April 2019
Entebbe Oval
Aziz Damani vs Kutchi Tigers - 10 am and 2pm
Kyambogo oval
Patidar Samaj vs Tornado Bees - 10 am
Aziz Damani is on a roll this season with a 100% unbeaten record in their eight games so far. The hard hitting from new recruit Roger Mukasa in their last game against Patidar Samaj has taken their NRR to an all new high of 3.2, and even closer to dethroning the Kampala Institute of Cricket Club (KICC).
His 100 runs in the last two games, were a huge contribution to the win last week with Frank Nsubuga, Brian Masaba and Saud Islam particularly contirbuting with the ball.
Unlike Damani, the Kutchi Tigers have had a rough start to the season with current table rankings seeing them in the bottom half rather than their usual top four spot as in previous season. Their last encounter against Tornado Bees was a nail biter in its right, with the Bees chasing a target of 169/4, to fall short by just 10 runs with three wickets in hand. The Tigers clinched victory by there but will need to plan accordingly before their next game.
Captain Nanji Pindoria and Anup Kerai have been pivotal in keeping his ship afloat with their all round performances with 284 runs and 13 wickets between them. Kanti Vekariya and Dhansuk Jesani have delivered with the ball, picking eleven and four wickets in eight and four innings respectively. Nandikishor Patel and Ankash Vekariya's contribution with the bat have not been unnoticed in the five games each has featured with 88 and 87 runs respectively and counting.
Their position took a hit when they lost to Patidar early in the season but revived with wins against Tornado Bees. After a five weeks' break, the side is hoping to regain their form, having had a track record of putting up an exciting contest whenever they face Aziz Damani. Two wins would see them leap over Patidar into the top four.
Damani will face the Kutchi Tigers at the lakeside oval in Entebbe this weekend, and will hope to continue the winning streak with a win in one or both games getting them to the number one spot over KICC. They aim to finish unbeaten, a game at a time. And while the Tigers have been known to put up a solid fight, they will have their game face on as they go into the match this weekend.
Tornado Bee hoping to break the duck
After a nail biter of a day against the Kutchi Tigers last week, the Bees will be looking to break the duck when they face Patidar this weekend. Samuel Kett top scored for the side with 42 off 46 balls in their 169 runs' chase, with David Musoke (35 off 24 balls) and Jeremy Kibukamusoke (27 off 24 balls) making significant contributions with the bat.
Derrick Bwire took two important wickets for the side having Nanji Pindoriya out before he could inflict any damage as well as hard hitter Kalpesh Jesani who was caught after pitting on 61 runs off 43 balls.
Captain Jeremy Kibukamusoke will look to his team rave up the attack as they face the Partidar side, who have the batsmen becoming a challenge Derrick Bakunzi, Opio Ronald, Hardik and Ankit Patel while bowlers Cosmas Kyewuta, Innocent Mwebaze, Ivan Baidhu hope to fell more wickets for the side.