The Lakeside Oval played host to a commanding display of cricket on Sunday, as the Kutchi Tigers Cricket Club produced a dominant double over Soroti City Cricket Club in the men’s UG20 competition.
The Group A double header belonged entirely to Kutchi, who showed greater consistency with both bat and ball as Soroti struggled to match their intensity across the two encounters. The day concluded with a memorable sweep for the Tigers and a bruising experience for Soroti, who fell short in both games despite putting up a stronger fight in the afternoon.
Morning Match
- Kutchi Tigers CC 168/7 in 20 Overs
- Soroti City CC 61 all out in 14.3 Overs
- Kutchi Tigers CC by 107 runs
In the morning game, Kutchi won the toss and elected to bat, posting 168 for seven in their 20 overs. Avnish Vekariya led the scoring with 41 off 33 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, while Nitin Jeshani added a brisk 26 off 12 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Ghanshyam Ashani also made a valuable 26 off 14 balls, with two sixes and a four, while Mitul Pindoriya contributed 25 off 22.
Steven Wabwose chipped in with 24 from 26 balls, and Dhansuk Jesani struck four off one ball before being run out. Abdulai Yusuf was Soroti’s leading bowler, taking two wickets for 36 runs in three overs, while Jacob Malinga also claimed two for 16.
Soroti’s chase never got going. They were bowled out for just 61 in 14.3 overs, handing Kutchi a massive 107-run victory. Alban Ainebyona top-scored with 23 off 17 balls, while Emma Twijukye and Wilfred Ogwang made 10 apiece.
Kutchi’s attack was led by Dhansuk Jesani, who returned two for six from three overs, while Vekariya Kush Mahesh also claimed two wickets for eight runs from three overs. Steven Wabwose and Ghanshyam Ashani picked up one wicket apiece.
With the morning contest already firmly in their hands, Kutchi returned in the afternoon and faced a different challenge after Soroti won the toss and chose to field.
Afternoon Match
- Kutchi Tigers CC 122/6 in 20 Overs
- Soroti City CC 89/8 in 20 Overs
- Kutchi Tigers CC by 33 runs
The Tigers posted 122 for six in their allotted 20 overs, with Mayur Hirani anchoring the innings with a patient 47 off 54 balls, including four fours and a six. Dhansuk Jesani added 16 from 27 balls, while Mitul Pindoriya scored 13 off 15.
Nitin Jeshani made 11 from six balls as Kutchi recovered from a shaky start to put up a defendable total. Stephen Okiror was Soroti’s most effective bowler, taking two wickets for 16 runs from four overs. Abdulai Yusuf, Jacob Malinga, Peter Ocen and Juma Sururu claimed one wicket each.
Chasing 123, Soroti again found Kutchi’s bowling too difficult to handle. They finished on 89 for eight in 20 overs, 33 runs short of the target. Wilfred Ogwang fought hardest for Soroti with 24 off 37 balls, while Peter Ocen also made 24 from 29.
Ainebyona scored nine, Twijukye seven, and Joel Epyangu remained unbeaten on eight, but Soroti could not build the partnerships needed to mount a serious chase. Mitul Pindoriya was the pick of the Kutchi attack, taking two wickets for 13 runs in four overs. Prashant Rathod also claimed two for 11 in his single over, while Ghanshyam Ashani, Dhansuk Jesani and Vekariya Kush Mahesh took one wicket apiece.
Elsewhere in the men’s UG20 competition, Chennai Cricket Club also completed a double over Tornado Bees in Group C, winning the morning game by five wickets and the afternoon encounter by eight wickets.
At the Jinja SSS Oval in Group D, JACC were equally ruthless, beating Jinja SS Cricket Club by 10 wickets in the morning before completing a 100-run victory in the afternoon.
A day earlier, Group B had provided its own drama, with Centurion edging Wanderers CC in a Super Over in the morning before Wanderers bounced back to win the afternoon rematch by seven runs at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe.