Baig anchors Tornado to retain league title

Nov 16, 2009

THEY have played with the aura of champions all-season and on Sunday, Tornado wrapped up the 2009 Castle Lager Premier cricket league with a 26-run win over nearest challengers Wanderers.

By Charles Mutebi
and Norman Katende


Tornado 161/9 (D/L 172), Wanderers 146
(Tornado win by 26 runs)
Lagan 108, CDT 110/2
(CDT win by 8 wkts)
Patidar 146, SKPLS 149/4
(SKPLS win by 6 wkts)
KICC 100, Tornado B 102/9
(Tornado B win by 1 wkt)

THEY have played with the aura of champions all-season and on Sunday, Tornado wrapped up the 2009 Castle Lager Premier cricket league with a 26-run win over nearest challengers Wanderers.

Going into their penultimate match of the campaign, Tornado needed only a point to be sure of retaining their crown. But the Wanderers were hoping to upset the odds and maintain their slim hopes for the title.

Denis Musaali’s team needed to win with a bonus-generating margin and hope Tornado lose their final game against ACC to win the league.

But in the end, Keith Legesi’s team had different ideas, and they did not include letting the league race drag on for another week.

Veterans Akbar Baig and Nehal Bibodi scored 36 off 67 and 35 off 62 respectively as Tornado raced to 161/9 in 44 overs.

Wanderers’ Paul Rwandekeye had taken 2 for 9 as Deus Muhumuza picked 3-27.

The revised target of 172 in 44 overs (Duckworth/Lewis) for Wanderers after the rain interruption seemed still in reach.

However, despite Ali Mohammed (29) and Abu Seguya (28) giving an opening stand of 60, Tornado persevered. And once Bibodi took out Muhammed for the first wicket, it all went pear-shaped for the Wanderers thereafter.

Number three batsman Hum Kayondo scored 24 but he would be the last Wanderer to put up a fight, the last seven falling for a mere 65 runs. That was due in large part to man-of-the-match Baig, who took 3-12 and four maidens. Bibodi claimed 3-40 while inform Charles Waiswa added 2-24.

Elsewhere, SKPLSA beat Patidar as the battle for promotion to the top division hightened. Premier and Charity are also in the running for the lone slot.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});