- Gold 191/8 (Robinson Obuya 49, Oscar Manishimwe 36)
- Sapphire 101/9 (Ronald Omara 20, Pius Okola 18, Didier Ndikwibimana 18)
- Gold won by 90 runs
Gold got off to a flying start in the inaugural MAXX T20 tournament with a commanding 90-run victory over Sapphire at the Lugogo Cricket Oval on Friday afternoon.
Robinson Obuya was the star of the show, earning the Man of the Match award with a blistering knock that set the foundation for Gold’s triumph.
Sapphire won the toss and decided to field first sending Gold to the stumps.
Batting first, Gold posted an imposing total of 191 for 8 in their 20 overs, thanks in large part to an explosive innings from Robinson Obuya.
The aggressive right-hander smashed 49 runs off just 22 balls, laced with five boundaries and four sixes, at an astonishing strike rate of 222.73. His powerful hitting gave Gold a rapid start before he was dismissed in the seventh over.
Wasim Butt (27) provided early momentum, while Oscar Manishimwe (36) and Gerald Olipa (28) built on the platform.
Kenneth Waiswa added late fireworks with a quickfire 23, ensuring Gold finished with a formidable total.
Sapphire’s bowling unit struggled to contain Gold’s batters, but Henry Ssenyondo (3) and Calvin Watuwa (3) were standout performers, picking up crucial wickets at key moments.
Chasing 192 for victory, Sapphire never got going and eventually crumbled to 101 for 9 in their 20 overs. Their innings lacked momentum, with none of their batters managing to build a substantial partnership.
Didier Ndikwibimana (18) and Oloka Pius (18) showed some fight, while Omara Ronald remained unbeaten on 20 off 24 balls.
Gold’s bowlers dominated from the outset, with Balidawa Ali (4) leading the charge with a stellar spell that dismantled Sapphire’s middle order.
Zappy Maurice Bimenyimana (2) and Yunus Sowobi (2 ) provided excellent support, ensuring Sapphire never threatened to chase the target.
With Obuya leading the charge with the bat and their bowlers delivering a disciplined performance, they look like a formidable side in the competition and will be set to face Emerald tomorrow at 9:30 PM.
Sapphire, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly and find solutions to their batting struggles if they are to bounce back in the game against Ruby tomorrow at 2 PM.
