It was a weekend of firsts, feats and fiery finishes as Uganda’s Division Two cricket scene lit up with standout performances, shocking collapses and rising stars.
From Soroti’s triumph in Entebbe to Aboojo’s statement victory over defending champions Kutchi Tigers, and Ceylon Lions’ narrow escape in a low-scoring match, every match told a compelling story.
Joseph Baguma powers Aboojo CC past Kutchi Tigers
- Kutchi Tigers: 153/10 in 29.4 Overs( Avinish Vekariya 41, Cyrus Kakuru 39)
- Aboojo CC: 154/3 in 15.3 Overs (Baguma Paul 68, Pascal Baguma 38)
- Aboojo CC won by 7 wickets
A clash billed as a test for title credentials, Aboojo Cricket Club handed defending champions Kutchi Tigers their first loss of the season with a dominant seven-wicket win powered by a sensational all-round performance from Baguma Joseph.
Batting first, the Tigers looked set for a big total at 118/2, thanks to a 67-run stand between Avinish Vekariya (41 off 25) and Cyrus Kakuru (39 off 49). But the innings unravelled quickly.
A ruthless spell by Baguma (4/17) and Lindon Mutengesa (3/13) triggered a collapse, with the last eight wickets falling for just 35 runs. Kutchi Tigers were dismissed for 153 in 29.4 overs.
Chasing 154, Aboojo stuttered early at 14/2 but Baguma rose to the occasion once again. Launching a counter-attack, he hammered an unbeaten 68 off just 38 balls, striking 11 boundaries and a six.
Supported by Pascal Murungi (38 off 22) and Brian Asaba (34), Aboojo chased down the target with 27 balls to spare.
Baguma’s match-winning display with bat and ball not only sealed victory but also announced Aboojo as serious contenders this season.
Ceylon Lions edge Avengers in tight low-score match
- Avengers CC: 114/10 in 26.1 Overs (Abraiz Mir Ali 32, Yunus Sowobi 16)
- Ceylon Lions: 116/ 7 in 20.4 Overs (Charles Musemeza 28, Ankit Patel 25)
- Ceylon Lions won by 3 wickets
The tightest contest of the weekend saw Ceylon Lions claw their way to a three-wicket win over Avengers CC in a low-scoring thriller defined by bowling excellence and gritty batting.
Avengers, put in to bat, never found their footing. Apart from a fighting 32 from Abraiz Mir Ali, their top and middle order struggled against a fiery Ceylon attack.
Brighton Muganzi led the charge with a lethal 5/12, well supported by Juma Miyaji (3/18), as Avengers folded for just 114 in 26.1 overs.
Ceylon’s chase wasn’t without drama. Early contributions from Charles Musemeza (28) and a quickfire 25 by Ankit Patel kept the scoreboard ticking, but wickets fell at regular intervals.
Yashashvi Joshi (4/38) and Yunus Sowobi (2 wickets) sparked late tension, but Mohomed Hamza (24) held his nerve to steer the Lions home in the 21st over.
Muganzi’s fifer was the standout highlight, as the Lions showcased their depth and resilience in a tense win.
Round Up in Division Two
Soroti City CC stun Patidar
- Soroti City 114/10 in 25 overs: ( Bankuzi Derrick 24, Ebulu Ronald 17)
- Patidar 74/10 in 33.5 overs ( Prakash Shah 28)
- Soroti City won by 40 runs
In their first-ever clash, Soroti City Cricket Club etched their name in the annals of Division Two history with a 40-run victory over Patidar Cricket Club at Entebbe Cricket Oval.
It marked Soroti’s third win on the trot, an impressive feat for the league newcomers.
The match began with early turbulence for Soroti after electing to bat. They lost wickets in clusters, including a rare obstructing the field dismissal for Gideon Outeke, and were reduced to 114 all out in just 25 overs.
Captain Ronald Ebulu (17) and Derrick Bakunzi (24) briefly steadied the ship with a 31-run partnership, but it was far from a commanding total.
Patidar looked poised to chase the modest target after a solid start, reaching 21 without loss. However, the game turned dramatically in the sixth over when Shah Yasser Khan ran himself out.
What followed was a bowling masterclass led by the same man who had earlier been dismissed in bizarre fashion Gideon Outeke.
Outeke tore through Patidar’s batting lineup with an extraordinary spell, 10 overs, 5 wickets, 4 maidens, conceding just 11 runs.
He was instrumental in a suffocating seven-over stretch of consecutive maidens, during which five wickets fell. Despite a defiant 28 from Parakash Shah, Patidar were bowled out 40 runs short.
For the second consecutive match, Outeke earned Player of the Match honours, his all-round brilliance solidifying his place as one of the tournament’s breakout stars.
- Mukono Warriors and SKLPS Dominate
In other matches, Mukono Warriors posted the most one-sided win of the weekend, thumping St. John’s SS by 140 runs.
Meanwhile, SKLPS cruised past Mukono Development by 9 wickets, asserting their dominance in clinical fashion.
