KICC certain of 2016 cricket title

As if the race for the UCA men's national cricket league title wasn't exciting already, KICC captain Hanumant Katkar has vowed that his side will definitely finish as champions.

Katkar's confidence is born of the KICC's bowling trident of Irfan Afridi, Frank Nsubuga and Abdul Rehman, which has become a terror for opposing batsmen.

The latest example came in KICC's eight-wicket win over Nile at Kyambogo, where said bowlers combined to bowl out their opponents in just 25.1 overs, with Afridi and Rehman claiming four wickets apiece while Nsubuga bagged the rest.

Nile went into the contest unbeaten but their decision to bat after winning the toss backfired as KICC turned on the heat on the way to winning the contest before lunch.

For Katkar, this bowling of show of strength was just more proof of underlying quality of his side, one he believes will be enough to lead them to the championship.

"With the bowlers we have, no team is going to beat us now," Katkar told the New Vision.

"No one is going to stop our bowlers. They are just too good. I don't think we are going to lose again because even when we don't bat well our bowlers are always going to limit teams to around 150 runs."

Yet with two thirds of the season to play and the quality of competition KICC face in Tornado Bee and the Challengers, Katkar's words are startling to say the least.

The Challengers currently lead the standings with 24 points from five games, followed by reigning three-time champions Tornado Bee, who trail by a minuscule range in the net run rate. KICC are six points adrift of the top two but have a game in hand and, if you believe Katkar, certain to complete the season on top.

For the neutral, Katkar's declarations are just one more reason to get excited about a season percolating with promise.