Kutchi Tigers 166 for 9 in 50 overs (Ankesh Vekariya 30* (25), Juma Miyaji 3-27 in 10) lost to Ceylon Lions 167 for 3 in 31.5 overs (Simon Ssesazi 90* (95), Narinder Singh 35 (52), Alpesh Hirani 2-15 in 5) by 7 wickets
Man Of Match: Simon Ssesazi (90 runs not out off 95 balls & 1 catch)
Left-hand opening batsman Simon Ssesazi rode his luck with a boundary-littered and unbeaten knock of 90 runs off 95 balls to give Ceylon Lions their ‘first official’ victory off the season - a seven wicket win - against Kutchi Tigers at Lugogo Cricket Ground on May 27.
Ceylon Lions came into the game with the monkey on their back as they were yet to register victory as with their alleged first win of the season against Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC) still a contentious issue as one of the parties remains determined to pursue the matter until justice is sought.
But Ssesazi put the pundits and critics talk that the Lions - formerly called Charity Trust Fund - were just a mere young and talented side with a small team mentality.
The 21-year-old was dropped a couple of times before reaching 30-odd but when he settled, he pounced in brutal style blazing three boundaries and five ‘juicy’ sixes to help the Lions chase down Kutchi Tigers’ set target of 166 in just 31.5 overs with just the loss of three wickets.
Top order batsman Arnold Otwani scored his third successive duck and Eddie Agaba’s early season woes continued with the national U-19 star managing just four runs but that mattered little with new signings; blood brothers Narinder Singh (35 off 52), who featured in an opening stand of 100 runs with Ssesazi, and Varinder Singh (29* off 20) stringing together match-winning knocks that could arguably be the turning point of Ceylon Lions’ season.
One-way traffic
Despite Kutchi Tigers winning the toss and two standout performances from Ankesh Vekariya (30 off 25) and Alpesh Hirani (2 for 15 in 5), everything else in the match was about the Ceylon Lions’ domination.
Teenage-sensation Juma Miyaji bowled his 10-over spell on the trot for three wickets and gave away a miserly 27 runs, Aarya Parikh was economical with figures of 2 for 20 in 10 overs whereas club coach-player Jonathan Ssebanja registered 2 for 41 in 9 overs to cap a good day for the bowlers.
Kutchi Tigers will have been pleased by their late fight that saw their last two wickets grind out 68 runs in the last 19 overs to avoid being bowled out but Ceylon Lions were the happier of the two teams as its them that left the jungle smiling with prey in hand to the delight of their boss - the passionate Ruwan Jayaratne.