Ceylon Lions secured their second win in the National Men’s 50 Over League thanks to an outstanding performance from Kenyan International Alex Obandaagainst Challengers.
Ceylon Lions had lost four of their opening six games, but Obanda was in no forgiving mood on Sunday.
The opening batter hit a century of 165 off 115 balls, knocking 19 fours and 7 sixes.
The 35-year-old was dismissed in the 39th Over, but he’d already set the pace for his side and Challengers were unable to recover.
Aneef Mohammed, the Challengers captain was very ruthless with the ball. He picked four wickets, but his efforts bore no fruits as they suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Brighton Muganzi (21), Pravin Ghadhavi (17) and Suleiman Mwebaze (11) added to Obanda’s ton.
Challengers were decent with their batting. Both Aneef (66) and Wasim Butt (55) notched half centuries and Sempijja (45), but the individual brilliance of Obanda halted their unbeaten run.
The result leaves Challengers second in the table standings with 8 points, four less than league leaders Aziz Damani Development.
Ceylon Lions meanwhile go a place up the table dislodging Wanderers from the 6th position.
What happened elsewhere
In the other games in the Men’s division, Aziz Damani ended Kutchi Tigers‘ winning run by a 28-run victory.
Simon Ssesazi (47), Shrideep Mangela (60), Riazat Ali Shah (39), and Kenyan wicket keeper Irfan Karim (34) got the runs for the defending champions as they set a total of 234/7.
Kutchi Tigers had tried to stage a comeback! Aezaz Kothariya (56) and Sachin Gill (34) were a lethal duo, but Damani’s bowlers were too good for their opponents.
Riazat and Alpesh Ramjani each picked three wickets while Junaid Khan got two.
Damani with that victory displace Kutchi Tigers from the third position.
It is Damani’s fourth win of the season and it takes them to 8 points, four below the leaders.
Patidar found their first win of the season after five attempts. The side edged Avengers by 3 runs to earn their first points.
Despite the win, they remain in the relegation zone, but that’s just on a net run rate that is inferior as compared to Avengers’.
Avengers are just a place above the bottom two.
Courtesy Photos
