- Sapphire 118/10 in 19.4 Overs (Cyrus Kakuru 27, Collins Obuya 13)
- Emerald 121/3 in 16.4 Overs (Simon Ssesazi 56, Irfan Karim 54)
- Emerald won by 7 wickets
Emerald concluded the round-robin phase of MAXX in style, securing a dominant 7-wicket win over Sapphire at the Lugogo Cricket Oval on Thursday evening.
Their victory, led by a stellar batting performance from captain Simon Ssesazi and wicketkeeper Irfan Karim, ensured a confident finish to this stage of the tournament.
After winning the toss, Sapphire elected to bat first but failed to build momentum, managing only 118 runs in 19.4 overs.
Their innings started cautiously, with opener Hamu Kayondo scoring (13) before falling to Suleman Sharif. Didier Ndikwibimana (9) struggled to accelerate and the team lost wickets at regular intervals.
The only notable contribution came from captain Cyrus Kakuru, who played an aggressive (27), including two sixes. Bilal Hassan provided a late flourish with (15), but the rest of the lineup failed to capitalize.
Emerald’s disciplined bowling attack kept Sapphire under pressure. Pascal Murungi led the way with three wickets, while Suleman Sharif and Frank Nsubuga claimed two each.
Baidu Ivan and Christopher Kidega also chipped in with a wicket each. The bowlers’ tight lines and effective variations restricted Sapphire to a modest total.
In the second innings onto a 119 chase, Emerald had a shaky start as Bilal Hassan struck early, dismissing Suleman Sharif, Charles Musemeza, and Ronald Lutaaya for ducks in the first over. At 1/3 within the first six balls, it seemed like Sapphire had a chance to defend their low total.
However, captain Simon Ssesazi (56) and Irfan Karim (54) steadied the innings with a composed yet commanding partnership. Ssesazi played a captain’s knock, anchoring the chase with calculated aggression, hitting five boundaries and two sixes. Karim complemented him well, finding gaps and rotating the strike efficiently.
Their unbroken 120-run partnership guided Emerald to victory in just 16.4 overs, showcasing resilience and class after the initial setback.
Key takeaways from the match
- Emerald’s Bowling Masterclass: The disciplined bowling attack ensured Sapphire never gained momentum, with all bowlers contributing crucial breakthroughs.
- Ssesazi and Karim’s match-winning Stand: The duo absorbed early pressure and steered Emerald to victory with an unbeaten 120-run partnership.
- Bilal Hassan’s early strikes: Despite ending up on the losing side, Bilal Hassan’s fiery opening spell (3/26) momentarily put Emerald in trouble.
With Friday 21 March being a rest day, semifinal action will be sighted on Saturday when Emerald takes on Ruby in the morning game and Gold battles it out in the Afternoon to get the two finalists.
The inaugural MAXX that is set to climax on Sunday is proudly sponsored by Plascon Uganda and is an avenue to groom young Cricketers.
