The Men’s National 50 Over League is about to witness one of its most anticipated fixtures as Wanderers Cricket Club and Rounders Cricket Club lock horns once more, this time at the scenic Entebbe Cricket Oval.
The clash, set for Sunday, is more than just a mid-table skirmish; it’s a renewal of one of Uganda’s fiercest cricket rivalries with pride, redemption and vital league points all on the line.
This is the second meeting between the two sides this season and if the first encounter was anything to go by, fans can expect a match brimming with drama and emotion.
Wanderers drew first blood in that encounter, clinching a 25-run win thanks to a breakout performance from a debutant, marking their only victory so far in a tough campaign.
Now, both sides enter this fixture nursing fresh wounds.
- Searching for redemption
Wanderers were last seen posting a solid 250 against Avengers, only to be brushed aside as their bowlers struggled to defend the total, conceding a seven-wicket defeat.
Despite the loss, there were encouraging signs in their batting with Basit Habib (64 off 99) anchoring the innings and Davis Karashani lighting up the middle overs with a blistering 70 off just 48 deliveries.
Rounders, meanwhile, are in urgent need of a turnaround. Their 81-run defeat to city rivals JACC was a low point in a season already teetering.
Their top order once again faltered, with only Narinda Singh (33) and Steven Wabwose (24) offering any real resistance.
On the bowling front, Collins Okwalinga and Jonathan Nyiro shared six wickets between them, but lacked the support needed to keep JACC in check.
- Players to watch
For Rounders, all eyes will be on Narinda Singh, their most dependable bat this season. He nearly orchestrated a heist in the first leg against Wanderers with a well-crafted 48 and will again be key if Rounders are to avenge that loss.
On the bowling side, the experienced trio of Arnold Tembo, Collins Okwalinga, and Jonathan Nyiro will need to strike early and often to disrupt a Wanderers side growing in confidence with the bat.
Wanderers, buoyed by individual brilliance in recent matches, will count on the continued form of Karashani and Habib. But it’s their bowling talisman Abrar Ul Haq who remains their ace.
After picking up two wickets against Avengers and a match-winning 4/29 against Rounders earlier in the season, his form could tilt the balance once again.
- More than just points
While both teams sit precariously in the lower half of the table, the narrative of this match runs deeper than standings.
For Rounders, it’s a chance to reclaim lost pride and inject life into a faltering campaign.
Wanderers, on the other hand, hold a rare opportunity to complete a season double against their rivals and claw their way out of the cellar.
Additional reporting by Daudi Mwesigwa.
