Africa-Press – Uganda. The race for top honours in the UCA National Men’s 50-Over League is tightening, with Ceylon Lions clinging to the summit by their claws and Kutchi Tigers rediscovering their title-winning groove.
Matchday Nine offered all the thrills and spills expected at this stage of the season. Ceylon Lions survived a scare in a rain-interrupted thriller at Entebbe to pip Aboojo by two wickets under the DLS Method.
Brighton Muganzi was once again their talisman, ripping through the middle order with 4/17 before Juma Miyaji’s composed 30 not out guided them to a nervy win. With 11 points from seven games, the Lions remain marginal leaders – but only just.
Fierce chasing pack
Hot on their heels, defending champions Kutchi Tigers issued a brutal reminder of their pedigree with a dominant 54-run win over Tornado Bee at Serenity Oval. Mitul Pindoriya’s 74 and Alpesh Hirani’s all-round show (27* & 4/20) proved too much for the Bees, whose chase disintegrated under pressure.
Jinja’s JACC kept their campaign alive and kicking by banking on national team all-rounder Kenneth Waiswa, who blew away Rounders with a five-wicket haul (5/26) to complete a derby double. Paul Mulongo (65) and Richard Sohera (46) set it up with the bat before Waiswa tore through the lineup, showing his worth as JACC’s X-Factor.
Woes continue
Elsewhere, Wanderers’ topsy-turvy campaign continued to stutter. Despite Davis Karashani’s fluent 70 and Abdul Basit’s solid 64, their 250/8 was gunned down ruthlessly by Avengers.
Joshi Yashashvi played the knock of the season so far with a polished 100 off 98 balls – the second century in Division I – sharing a 141-run stand with U-19 batsman Abraiz Mir Ali (62) that made a mockery of the chase.
In Division II, GM Sugar remain imperious. Their 118-run drubbing of Mukono Warriors, powered by a 5/14 spell from Karan Patel, solidified their grip on Group B.
In Group A, Nile climbed to second with a 68-run victory over Patidar Samaj, built around Jimson Wankona’s fine all-round display (5/21 & 23 runs).
With every team jostling for pole positions or survival, the league has entered the business end—and the contenders are clearly separating from the pretenders.
UCA NATIONAL 50-OVER LEAGUE
Results – Division I – Premiership
Wanderers 250/8 | Avengers 252/3
Kutchi Tigers 218/9 | Tornado Bee 164
Aboojo 120/10 | Ceylon Lions 124/8
JACC 192/10 | Rounders 111/10
Division II – Championship
KC Budo 191/10 | Jinja SS 57/10
GM Sugar 231/10 | Mukono Warriors 113/10
Nile 150/10 | Patidar Samaj 82/10
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