Ssesazi’s near-ton lights Up Entebbe, Musinguzi takes tournament’s first fifer, Warriors grit through, Gladiators hold nerve
Entebbe – Day 1 & Day 2
Day One – Morning
Blasters vs Warriors – Entebbe Cricket Oval, 9:30 AM
Warriors Survive Early Chaos to Edge Blasters
Blasters won the toss and elected to bowl
Under the bright Entebbe sun, Warriors were shaken immediately when Pius Oloka tore through the top order, leaving them 34 for 3 inside the first three overs.
Wasim Butt steadied the innings with a gritty 38, before Robert Owili injected late momentum with 23 off 11 balls as Warriors reached 145 for 9.
In reply, Blasters began with confidence through Simon Ssesazi, who played fluently for 46.
But Joseph Baguma struck twice to break the early rhythm, and when Harsh Panchal returned for a decisive spell, the chase tilted.
Darshil Dalwadi then delivered a crucial triple strike, triggering a collapse. Blasters went from 130 for 7 to all out for 130 in 19.1 overs, losing their last three wickets in four balls.
Warriors held on through discipline and grit to secure a tense victory.
Result: Warriors won by 15 runs
Player of the Match: Harsh Panchal
Day One – Afternoon
Titans vs Strikers – Entebbe Cricket Oval, 2:00 PM
Alijuna Turns the Chase into a One-Man Surge
Titans won the toss and elected to bat.
Titans began positively with Amos Ahura’s strokeplay and Conrad Lubwama’s composure taking them to 41 inside five overs.
But the innings unraveled quickly when Hamid Munigwa dismantled the top order with three rapid wickets.
Fortunate Alijuna followed up with disciplined bowling in the middle overs, removing key batters as Titans collapsed to 125 all out in 18.2 overs.
Only a late push from Geofrey Kakaire kept them competitive.
Strikers’ chase started cautiously and briefly faltered when Robinson Obuya fell after a quick 19 off 10 balls.
Siraje Nsubuga’s accurate spell threatened further damage, but Fortunate Alijuna changed the tone of the game entirely.
He struck cleanly and fearlessly, hammering 44 off 23 balls to rebuild and dominate the chase. With Robert Ajuna offering stability at the other end, Strikers crossed the target in just 15 overs.
Result: Strikers won by 5 wickets
Player of the Match: Fortunate Alijuna
Day Two – Morning
Gladiators vs Royals – Entebbe Cricket Oval, 9:30 AM
Olipa’s Captain’s Knock Lifts Gladiators
Royals won the toss and elected to bowl.
Gladiators began cautiously and lost Suleman Sharif early, but Brian Asaba steadied the innings.
Captain Olipa Gerald took charge from the seventh over onward, striking confidently through the off-side and clearing the ropes in the middle overs.
His authoritative 58 off 40 balls formed the backbone of Gladiators’ total of 148 for 6. Support from Dan Keith Amani ensured the innings closed strongly.
Royals’ chase derailed almost immediately.
A sharp direct hit from Kizza Jonathan removed Anas Baig, and Richard Sohera fell moments later without scoring.
Perry Wazombe’s bright 18 off 11 revived brief hope, but Musa Majid Ramathan’s clever variations ended his stay.
Calvin Watuwa and captain Cyrus Kakuru attempted to rebuild, yet Amani returned to remove both in a decisive double strike.
Late aggression from Jonathan Nyiiro, who struck 34 off 19, kept the match alive but the Royals ran out of partners and were dismissed for 125 in 19.1 overs.
Result: Gladiators won by 23 runs
Player of the Match: Olipa Gerald
Day Two – Afternoon
Blasters vs Strikers – Entebbe Cricket Oval, 2:00 PM
Ssesazi Blazes 90 Before Musinguzi’s Fifer Crushes Strikers
Blasters won the toss and elected to bat.
The afternoon heat framed one of the tournament’s standout individual performances.
Simon Ssesazi played with complete command, driving, sweeping, and lofting effortlessly as he compiled a superb 90 off 57 balls. Charles Musemeza added a composed 35 as Blasters marched to 170 for 8.
Adam Kassim bowled impressively for three wickets, but the Blasters maintained momentum throughout.
Strikers’ chase dissolved almost immediately.
Mathew Musinguzi bowled one of the most ruthless spells seen in Entebbe, claiming 5 for 7 in four overs.
His double-strike in the third over shattered the top order, and from there, Strikers lost wickets in clusters.
A controversial obstructing-the-field dismissal of Timothy Kawanguzi added further drama. Only Yunus Sowobi managed resistance with 25, but with no support around him, the team folded for 84 in 17.5 overs.
Result: Blasters won by 86 runs
Player of the Match: Musinguzi Mathew
Tournament Standings After Two Days
Top Performers
- Leading run-scorer: Simon Ssesazi – 136 runs
- Leading wicket-taker: Kassim Adam – 6 wickets
- Second: Musinguzi Mathew – 5 wickets
- Overall ranking leader: Simon Ssesazi – 195 points
Milestones
- Two half-centuries recorded (Ssesazi 90, Olipa 58)
- One fifer (Musinguzi 5/7)
- One hat-trick recorded earlier in the tournament
Points table
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Wins | Losses | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) |
| 1 | Blasters | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.775 |
| 2 | Gladiators | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.15 |
| 3 | Warriors | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.75 |
| 4 | Strikers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1.3464 |
| 5 | Royals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1.15 |
| 6 | Titans | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2.2167 |
Upcoming Fixtures
Warriors vs Royals – 9:30 AM
Titans vs Gladiators – 2:00 PM